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COUNTIES 



O F 



ILLINOIS. 

Their Origin an d Evoluti 



With Twenty-Three Maps Showing the Origina. 
the Present Boundary Lines of Each 
County in the State. 




COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY 

JAMES A. ROSE, Secretary of State, 

JANUARY 1, 1906. 



7/5 






COUNTIES 



O F 



ILLINOIS. 

Their Origin an d Evolution 



With Twenty-Three Maps Showing the Original and 

the Present Boundary Lines of Each 

County of the State. 






COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY 

JAMES A. ROSE, Secretary of State, 

JANUARY 1, 1906. 



4 TRADES fe S flcOUHCIL > 



SPRINGFIELD: 
Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers 

1906 



(p* 



EXPLANATORY. 



This pamphlet consists of an article entitled, "Counties of Illinois" extracted 
from the Illinois Blue Book of 1906. It is published in this form to render 
possible a more liberal distribution of it than the limited edition of the Blue 
Book will allow. Similar maps, so far as I am informed, have never before 
been published; and the text explanatory of the maps, has been compiled 
from original sources. The exact language of statutes and proclamations has 
been quoted except in some instances where, to economize space, abridgements 
have semea advisable; but no abridgement has been allowed to alter or 
obscure the meaning of the original. 

James A. Rose. 

Secretary of State. 

Springfield. Jan. 1. 1906. 

D. OF D. 

JAN 4 1910 



COUNTIES OF ILLINOIS. 



The counties of Illinois are 102 in number of which McLean is the greatest 
in area with 1,161 square miles and Cook the most populous with 1,838,735 as 
returned by the federal census of 1900. Putnam is the smallest both in 
extent and population, having an area of 170 square miles and 4,706 inhabi- 
tants, McLean having about seven times its area and Cook about 400 times 
its population. Cook contains the greatest number of incorporated munici- 
palities, fifty-nine: Vermilion the next in number, twenty-five; while Schuyler 
and AY abash contain the smallest number, two each. 

For the purpose of the regulation of official fees and salaries the counties 
of the Sta f e are divided into three classes: Those of not more than 25,000 
population (fifty-two in number), are of the first class; those of more than 
25,000 and less than 100.000, (forty-nine in number), are of the second class; 
those of more than 100,000 are of the third class. Cook being the only county 
in this class. 

The powers of the county as a body politic and corporate are exercised 
by the county board, which consists, in Cook county, of fifteen commission- 
ers, ten elected from the city of Chicago and five from the outlying townships. 
In other counties under township organization the county board consists of 
the supervisors from the several townships of the county. In counties not 
under township organization, the county board consists of three commission- 
ers elected by the electors of the entire county for a term of three years with 
terms so arranged that a new member will be elected each year. 

The system of township organization provided by the statutes is optional 
with the several counties any one of which may change to or from such sys- 
tem by a majority vote of all the electors of the county. Elections for the 
adoption of township organization may be ordered on a petition of fiftj' elec- 
tors and for the discontinuance of the systen on petition of one-fifth of the 
electors of the county. There are nineteen counties not under township or- 
ganization. 

County 'organization in Illinois dates back to 1779 when, after the conquest 
of Kaskaskia and Vineennes by George Rogers Clark in 1778. the "County of 
Illinois" was established by legislative enactment of Virginia and the new 
county, vaguely defined as to boundaries, was attached to that common wealth. 
This was passed in October 1778 and proclamation of the act made June 17, 
1779. Captain John Todd was appointed "County lieutenant oommandent" 
and organized the government with the county seat at Kaskaskia. But the 
machinery of county government was never effectually set up. and it soon 
ceased to run. 



St. Ci.au: and Randolph as Counties of Northwest Territory. 

In J.784, Virginia surrendered to the general government all claims to this 
territory and in 1787 "An Act for the government of the territory of the 
United States northwest of the Ohio river*' was passed by the congress sitting 
under the articles of confederation. Under this ordinance General Arthur St. 
Clair was appointed governor of the territory, and. in 1790. organized by 
proclamation, the county of St. Clair, named in honor of himself. 



To understand the boundaries defined in this and subsequent proclamations 
and in the early legislative acts setting up counties in the Northwest Terri- 
tory, Indiana territory and the territory of Illinois, it is necessary to know 
the geographical location of a number of points not found on modern maps of 
Illinois. Some of these points are: 

The "Little Michilimackinac"; the Mackinaw river flowing into the Illinois 
four or five miles below Pekin in Tazewell county. 

'•The little river above Fort Massac"; now called Massac creek, flowing in 
to the Ohio immediately east of the city of Metropolis, Massac county. 

"Standing Stone Forks" of the Great Miami; near the present site of the 
village of Loramie, in the western part of Shelby county, Ohio. 

"Theokiki river"; the Kankakee. 

"Chicago river"; the DesPlaines. 

"Cahokia"; the northeast part of town 1 north, 10 west; St. Clair county. 

"Prairie du Rocher"; near the center of town 5 south, 9 west, Randolph 
county. 

"Cave Spring" and "Sink Hole Spring": believed to be identical and located 
in Monroe county, section ten, town four south, range ten west, about nine 
miles south and one mile west of the city of Waterloo. 

"The Great Cave on the Ohio"; section thirteen, town twelve south, nine 
east of the third principal meridian, near the present village of Cave-in-Rock, 
Hardin county. 

"The Great Kennomic," or "Kalamik,"or "Calumet"; a small stream flowing 
into the southern bend of Lake Michigan in Lake county, Indiana, about eigh- 
teen miles east of the Illinois State line. 

"Mile's Trace"; an old road or trail from Elizabethtown to Kaskaskia, a 
part of which led from the head waters of Lusk creek northwesterly through 
Crab Orchard and across the western line of Williamson county near its 
northern boundary. 

"Lusk Creek"; a small stream still bearing that name, emptying into the 
Ohio immediately above the city of Golconda, Pope county. 

"Gagnic Creek"; the DeGagnia, a small creek emptying into the Mississippi 
in town eight south, five west, on the present boundary line between Ran- 
dolph and Jackson counties. 

"Bompass", "Bompast" or "Bon Pas" creek or river; a small branch of the 
Wabash forming the present boundary between Edwards and Wabash 
counties. 

"Boon's Mill"; west of the center of town 7 south, 10 east of the 3d princi- 
pal meridian near the present site of New Haven. 

The outlines of the latter counties formed after the territory had been 
brought under the federal system of surveys, with boundaries, described by 
township and range lines, are easily traced. 



1790— St Clair County 

April 27, 1790, Governoi St. Clair issued his proclamation organizing St. 
Clair as a count\ of the Northwest Territory. It had for its bonndai'ies a 
direct line from the mouth of the Little Mackinaw to the mouth of the 
Massac creek, thence down the Ohio to the Mississippi, up the Mississippi to the 
mouth of the Illinois and up the Illinois to the mouth of the Mackinaw. As 
thus constituted the county extended nearly two hundred and fifty miles from 
north to south with a maximum width of about eighty miles. It embraced 
the territory of twenty existing counties and fractions of eleven others. But 
with all this wealth of territory, St. Clair was a small county as compared 
with Knox, created by proclamation June 20 of the same year, which in- 
cluded about half of the State of Illinois, the whole of Indiana, that part of 
Ohio west of the Great Miami river, the greater part of Michigan, and a con- 
siderable part of Wisconsin as these states exist at present. Knox was 
organized to meet the wants of the settlements about Vincennes. The out- 
lines of St. Clair and of the Illinois portion of Knox are found on Map No. 1. 



1795 — Randolph County. 

October 5, 1795, Randolph eounty was created a county of the Northwest 
Territory by proclamation of Governor St. Clair and included all that part of 
the then existing - county of St. Clair lying - south of a line running from the 
Mississippi directly east through -'the cave spring a little south of the New 
Design" settlement to the boundary of Knox county. - Assuming the "cave 
spring" mentioned in this proclamation to be identical with the "Sink Hole 
Spring" of Governor Harrison's later proclamations, this east and west line 
was about two miles south of the present southern boundary of St. Clair 
county. This division gave to Randolph about one third of the territory of 
St. Clair as first established. These boundaries, shown on Map No. 2, re- 
mained unchanged until after the organization of Indiana Territory in 1800. 

1801 — St. Clair and Randolph as Counties of Indiana Tekkitokv. 

February 6. 1801, William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Territory of 
Indiana, issued his proclamation continuing the counties of St. Clair and 
Randolph as counties of Indiana Territory, but changed their boundaries and 
enlarged their areas. The east and west line dividing St. Clair and Randolph 
ran directly east from the Mississippi through the center of Sink Hole spring 
until it intersected a line drawn directly north from the "Great Cave on the 
Ohio." The point of intersection of these two lines is in section 12, town 4 
south, 9 east, in White county and was made the northeast corner of Ran- 
dolph county, the eastern boundary of Randolph being this line north from 
the cave, while the Ohio and Mississippi formed the southeastern and south- 
western boundaries respectively. St. Clair, as defined by this proclamation, 
had for its eastern boundary a line drawn from the northeastern corner of 
Randolph to the "mouth of the Great Kennomic river," and for its northern 
boundary, the Canada line. By the terms of this proclamation but little Illi- 
nois territory — a narrow strip along the Wabash — was left in Knox county. 
St. Clair contained not only the greater part of the present State of Illinois, 
but all of Wisconsin and a considerable part of Michigan and Minnesota as 
well. St. Clair and Randolph as counties of Indiana Territory are shown on 
Map No. 3, except the part of St. Clair extending beyond the present limits 
of the State. 

1803 — St. Clair and Randolph — Boundaries Changed. 

In response to sundry petitions, Governor Harrison re-adjusted by procla- 
mation of March 25, 1803, the dividing line between Randolph and St. Clair. 
The dividing line thus established ran from a point on the Mississippi, about 
four miles further south than the old boundary, northeast to Sink Hole spring; 
thence in a northeasterly direction till it intersected a line running north 
from Cave-in- Rock. The point of intersection is in Jasper county, town six 
north, nine east of the third principal meridian, near the present site of 
Newton. The other boundaries of the two counties were unchanged and 
so remained until after the organization of the Territory of Illinois in 1809. 
This change of boundary is shown on Map No. 4. 

1809 — St. Claik and Randolph as Counties of Illinois Territory. 

April 28, 1809, Nathaniel Pope, Secretary and Acting Governor of the new 
territory, issued his proclamation continuing St. Clair and Randolph coun- 
ties of Illinois Territory without change of boundaries, except that the east- 
ern boundary of each county was extended to the eastern boundary of Illi- 
nois Territory, now the eastern boundary of the State. This gave to Ran- 
dolph additional territory on the east and to St. Clair a triangular strip along 
the southern part and took from it a triangular strip from the northern part 
of its eastern side, and eliminated Knox county from Illinois Territory. St. 
Clair still extended north to the Canada line. Map No. 5 shows St. Clair and 
Randolph as the two original counties of Illinois Territory as re-established 
in 1809. 



6 

1812 — Madison, Gallatin and Johnson. 

September 12, 1812, by proclamation of Governor Ninian Edwards, three 
new counties, Madison, Gallatin and Johnson, were created. Madison in- 
cluded all that part of the territory of Illinois lying north of the present 
southern boundary of Madison extended to the Wabash. Gallatin was 
bounded on the north by this same line, on the east by the Wabash and Ohio 
rivers and on the west and southwest by the Big Muddy, Miles"s trace and 
Lusk creek. Johnson included all the territory bounded by the Big Muddy, 
Mississippi and Ohio rivers, Lusk creek and Miles's trace. This proclamation 
cut St. Clair down to comparatively small dimensions and made of it the 
smallest county of the Territory. These were the last counties created by 
proclamation. In this year Illinois was raised to the second grade of terri- 
torial government, and the creation of new counties and alteration of county 
lines devolved, thereafter, upon the Territorial Legislature. The outlines of 
these counties are shown on Map No. 6. 

1813 — Boundakies Readjusted. 

December 11. 1813, two acts were passed by the first Territorial Legislature 
readjusting the boundary lines of St. Clair, Randolph and Gallatin. The line 
running northeasterly from Sink Hole spring as the southeastern boundary 
of St. Clair was abandoned and Sink Hole spring lost its importance as a 
landmark. Lines of the Federal survey had been established by this time, 
and the line between townships three and four south (extended from the 
Mississippi to the third principal meridian) was made the dividing line be- 
tween St. Clair and Randolph. The third principal meridian from the south- 
ern boundary of Madison to its intersection with Miles's trace was made the 
dividing line between Gallatin to the east and St. Clair and .Randolph to the 
west. By these acts, those parts of St. Clair and Randolph east of the third 
principal meridian were added to Gallatin, nearly half of the remaining ter- 
ritory of Randolph was added to St. Clair and a small triangle from the ex- 
treme southwestern part of St. Clair was added to Randolph. Madison and 
Johnson remained unchanged. The county boundaries established by these 
acts are shown on Map No. 7. 

1814-1815 — Edwards and White. 

Nov. 20, 1814, the Territorial Legislature passed "An act for the division of 
Gallatin county," which act divided Madison county as well, and from the 
northern part of Gallatin and the part of Madison lying east of the third 
principal meridian, made Edwards the sixth county of the territory. Dec. 9, 
1815, Gallatin was further reduced by the creation of White including besides 
the present area of White all the territory directly west of it to the third prin- 
cipal meridian. These two counties are shown on Map No. 8. 

1816 — Monroe, Jackson, Pope and Crawford. 

Jan. 6, 1816, Monroe county was created, Jackson and Pope Jan. 10, and 
Crawford Dec. 31, of the same year. Monroe, from St. Clair and Randolph, was 
given substantially its present boundaries except that the eastern boundary 
across town 3 has since been carried east to the Kaskaskia river. Several 
changes have since been made in the northeastern and southeastern boundaries 
of Monroe, but all of a trifling character. .Jackson, from Randolph, included 
besides its present area, the southern part of the present countv of Perry. 
Pope, from Johnson and Gallatin, contained besides its present area, portions 
of the present counties of Massac, Johnson and Hardin. Dec. 8 of the same 
year the northeastern boundary of Pope was carried east six miles, that is to 
a line running from the "Rock and Cave" (Cave-in-Rock) on the Ohio to the 
southwest corner of town 10 south, 8 east. Crawford included all that part 
of the territory lying east of the third principal meridian, and north of the 
line dividing towns 3 and 4 north. That part of Johnson between Miles's 
trace and the third principal meridian was attached temporarily, the eastern 
part to Gallatin and the western part to Jackson. These changes of county 
lines are shown on Map No. 9. 



1817— Bond. 

Jan. 4, 1817, Bond county was created, a parallelogram twenty-four miles 
wide from east to west and about 600 miles in length, reaching from a line 
six miles south of its present southern boundary to Lake Superior on the 
north. The Illinois part of this county is shown on Map No. 10. 

i 

1818 — Fbanklin, Union and Washington. 

By acts of Jan. 2, 1818, three new counties were created, the last counties 
of territorial origin. Franklin included, besides its present area, all of 
Williamson. Union was given its present territory to which was temporarily 
attached the country lying south of it and between the Mississippi and Ohio 
rivers. Union was the first county of Illinois to which was given its present 
boundai-ies. Washington, formed from the eastern part of St. Clair, included, 
besides its present area, the greater part of the present county of Clinton. 
Map No. 11 shows the counties of Illinois as they existed at the close of the 
territorial period. The admission of Illinois as a State in 1818 worked no 
change in county boundaries except that Madison, Bond and Crawford no 
longer extended north to the Canada line, but had for their northern limit the 
present northern boundary of the State. 

1819 — Alexander, Clark, Jefferson and Wayne. 

The second session of the first General Assembly of the State created four 
new counties, Alexander, Clark, Jefferson and Wayne. Alexander, (March 4) 
from unorganized territory south of Union, included besides its present area, 
a portion of Pulaski. Clark, (March 22) from the north part of Crawford, ex- 
tended from the third principal meridian to the Indiana state line and from 
the present southern county boundary to the Wisconsin state line on the north. 
Jefferson, (March 26) from Edwards and White, included, besides its present 
area, the greater part of Marion. Wayne, (March 26) from Edwards, contained 
its present territory together with the southern part of Clay and the western 
part of Richland. Map No. 12 shows the county boundaries as they existed 
at the close of the first General Assembly of the State. 

1821 — Lawrence. Greene. Sangamon. Pike, Hamilton and Montgomery. 

In 1821, six new counties were created. Lawrence, (January 16) from Craw- 
ford and Edwards, included, besides its present area, the greater part of Rich- 
land just west of it. Greene, (January 20) from Madison, included, besides its 
present area, that of Jersey. The unorganized territory to the north and east 
of Greene was temporarily attached to it. Sangamon, (January 30) from 
Madison and Bond, included, besides its present area, all of the existing 
counties of Cass, Menard. Logan. Mason, Tazewell, and parts of Christian, 
Macon. McLean, Woodford, Marshall and Putnam. Pike. (January 31) from 
Madison. Bond and Clark, included all that part of the State north and west 
of the Illinois and north of the Kankakee. Hamilton. (February 8) from the 
western part of White, was given its present boundaries and White was re- 
duced to its existing limits. Montgomery, (February 12) from Bond and Madi- 
son, extended north from its present southern boundary to the county of San- 
gamon and included the southwestern part of Christian county. Town 10 and 
part of town 9 north, 1 west have since been added to Montgomery. Vandalia 
having been fixed upon as the future capital of the State, it was considered 
necessary to surround it with a county of suitable dimensions, and Fayette 
(February 14) was created from Bond, Jefferson, Wayne. Crawford and Clark. 
It had for its southern boundary the line dividing townships 2 and 3 north, 
and extended north 180 miles, to the Illinois river. It was 42 miles wide for 
a distance of 60 miles and 36 miles wide the remaining 120 miles of its extent. 
It contained nearly 7.000 square miles of territory and included within its 
boundaries, in whole or in part, 18 counties as they exist today. A strict con- 
struction of the act creating Fayette would have made its entire western 



8 

boundary the line between ranges 1 and 2 west of the third principal meridian, 
and its northern boundary the Wisconsin state line; thus taking, south of the 
Illinois river, one range of townships from the east side of Sangamon (formed 
January 30) and, north of the river, cutting in two Pike (formed January 31), 
and making its area about 11,000 square miles. It is probable, however, that 
the word "unorganized" should be read into the first section of the act, making 
it read, "all that tract of unorganized" country lying north" etc. Subsequent 
acts seem to agree with this construction. The outlines of these counties are 
shown on Map No. 13. 

1823 — Edgar, Marion, Fulton and Morgan. 

In 1823, four new counties were created. Edgar, (January 3) from Clark, 
was given its present boundaries and unorganized territory north and west 
of it was temporarily attached to it. Marion, (January 24) from Fayette and 
Jefferson, was given its present boundaries. Fulton, (January 28) from Pike, 
included besides its present area, parts of Knox, Peoria and Schuyler, and 
the unorganized territory to the north and east was temporarily attached. 
Morgan, (January 31) from Sangamon and the unorganized territory north of 
Greene, included the present counties of Morgan, Scott and Cass. The 
boundaries of Pike were re-defined, restricting it to the territory between the 
Illinois and Mississippi south of a line drawn west from the present site of 
Beardstown. It contained the present counties of Pike and Calhoun, a small 
part of Schuyler and the greater part of Brown and Adams. The unorganized 
territory west of Fulton and north of Pike was temporarily attached to Pike. 
For these changes of boundary see Map No. 14. 

1824 — Clay, Clinton and Wabash. 

In 1824, three new counties were created. Clay, (December 23) from Fayette. 
Crawford and Wayne, included besides its present area, parts of Jasper and 
Richland. Clinton and Wabash, (December 27) the former from Washington, 
Fayette and Bond, and the latter from Edwards, were given their present 
boundaries. These acts also reduced Edwards, Wayne and Washington to 
their present limits. These changes of boundaries are shown on Map No. 15. 

1825 — Ten New Counties. 

In 1825, ten new counties were added, all of them in the territory north and 
west of the Illinois river: Calhoun (January 10), Adams, Hancock, Henry, 
Knox, Mercer, Putnam, Schuyler and Warren by a single act of January 13, 
and Peoria by a separate act of the same date. These acts gave to Adams, 
Hancock and' Calhoun their present boundaries, included with Warren the 
present county of Henderson, gave to Mercer besides its present area, the part 
of Rock Island to the north of it, to Knox an area smaller by four townships 
than it now has, included with Schuyler the present county of Brown, and 
gave to Putnam all the unorganized country north of the Illinois and Kanka- 
kee rivers. Pike, Peoria and Fulton were reduced to their present limits. 
Hancock was attached to Adams, and Mercer to Schuyler, until the organiza- 
tion of these attached counties could be completed. The northern line of 
Sangamon was redefined and the detached portion temporarily attached to 
Fulton. A considerable tract of the unorganized territory east of Greene was 
added to Madison. Henry county extended south from the Wisconsin line to 
a line six miles south of its present boundary and from the 4th principal 
meridian east to the line dividing ranges 4 and 5. In defining Henry county, 
the Mississippi was not named as part of its western boundary, and as de- 
scribed in the act it extended beyond the Mississippi and included a consider- 
able part of Iowa territory. The eastern boundary of Monroe county was 
carried east so as to include township 3 south, 8 west, from St. Clair, and in 
1827 was further extended to the Kaskaskia river, adding to it the fractional 
township 3 south, 7 west from St. Clair, thus enlarging Monroe and reducing 
St. Clair to existing limits. The changes described are shown on Map No. 16. 



.9 

1826 — Vermilion and McDonougil 

In 1826, but two new counties were established: Vermilion, (January 18) 
from unorganized territory attached to Edgar; and McDonough, with its 
present boundaries, from territory attached to Schuyler. These two counties 
are shown on Map No. 17. The unorganized territory north and west of 
Vermilion was temporarily attached to that county. Mercer and Warren 
were attached to Peoria, and McDonough to Schuyler, until their respective 
organizations could be completed. 

1827 — Shelby, Perky, Tazewell axd JoDaviess. 

In 1827, four new counties were established: Shelby, (January 23) from 
Fayette, including its present territory and portions of Moultrie and Chris- 
tian: Perry, (January 29) from Randolph and Jackson, was given its present 
boundaries; Tazewell, (January 31) from the unorganized territory east of the 
Illinois, included the present counties of Tazewell and Woodford and parts 
of .McLean, Livingston, DeWitt, Logan and Mason; JoDaviess (February 17) 
from Mercer, Henry and Putnam, included a large area north of the "militaiw 
tract*' and west of the range line between 10 and 11 east of the 4th prin- 
cipal meridian including besides the present county of JoDaviess, four 
entire counties and parts of five others. The country north of Shelby 
(formerly a part of Fayette) was temporarily attached to Shelby, that still 
further north to Tazewell and that north of Tazewell to Peoria. Mercer was 
reduced to its present limits: but, not having completed its organization, re- 
mained, w 7 ith Warren, attached to Peoria. A small tract from St. Clair, lying 
west of the Kaskaskia was added to Monroe January 9. The county bound- 
aries at the close of 1827 are shown on Map No. 18. 

1829-1831— Nine New Counties. 

During- this period nine new counties were created: Two in 1829 f , two in 
1830 and five in 1831. In 1829, Macoupin, (January 17) from Madison and un- 
organized territory attached to Greene, was given its present boundaries, and 
Macon. (January 19) from territory attached to Shelby, included the present 
area of Macon, together with portions of Piatt, Moultry and DeWitt. 

In 1830; Coles, (December 25) from the western part of Clark and the unor- 
ganized territory north of it, included the present counties of Douglas, Coles 
and Cumberland. McLean, (December 25) from the eastern part of Tazewell 
and territory east of it, included all its present area with parts of Piatt, De- 
Witt, Logan, Woodford and Livingston. 

In 1831, Cook, (January 15) from Putnam, contained, besides its present 
territory, all of Lake and DuPage and parts of McHenry and Will. LaSalle, 
(January 15) from Putnam and unorganized territory south of the Illinois, 
contained, besides its present area, all of Grundy and parts of Livingston, 
Kendall and Marshall. Rock Island. (February 9) from JoDaviess, was given 
its present boundaries. Effingham and Jasper, (February 15) were given their 
present boundaries, the first from Fayette and Crawford, and the latter from 
Crawford and Clay. The boundaries of Henry, Putnam and Knox were altered 
but neither county reduced to its present lines, Mercer was attached to War- 
ren until fully organized; Henry was attached to Knox, and the unorganized 
country north of LaSalle was attached to that county. Towns 12 and 13 
north, 5 east of the 4th principal meridian were included by acts of the same 
date in both Knox and Henry counties. The section of the act including this 
tract in Henry was repealed March 4, 1837. The county boundaries at the 
close of this period are shown on Map No. 19. 

1833-1835 — Champaign axd Iroquois. 

In 1833, Champaign, (February 20) from Vermilion and unorganized terri- 
tory lying west of it, was given its present boundaries. Iroquois, (February 
26) from unorganized territory north of Vermilion, included, besides its pres- 



10 

§ 

ent area, nearly all of Kankakee and nearly half of Will. By these two acts 
Vermilion was * reduced to its present limits. The boundary between Frank- 
lin and Perry was re-adjusted, (March 1, 1835) making Little Muddy river 
the dividing line between the counties. Feb 12, 1835, the line dividing San- 
gamon and Morgan was re-defined and provision made for its survey. In 1833, 
(February 26) Vermilion was enlarged to its present limits by the addition of 
unorganized territory on the north. These changes are shown on Map No. 20. 

1836 — Six New Counties. 

In 1836. six new counties were formed: Will. (January 12) from Cook and 
Iroquois, included, besides its present area, the part of Kankakee county lying 
north of the Kankakee river. Kane, McHenry, Ogle, Whiteside and Winne- 
bago were created by a single act, (January 16). Kane included the present 
counties of Kane and DeKalb and part of Kendall; McHenry, besides its pres- 
ent area, included Lake; Winnebago included Boone and part of Stephenson; 
Ogle consisted of the present counties of Ogle and Lee, while Whiteside was 
given its present boundaries. The boundary of JoDaviess was re-defined and 
the area greatly reduced by the act of Jan 16. Winnebago, Ogle and White- 
side were attached to JoDaviess, and Kane to LaSalle, until their several 
organizations could be completed. See Map No. 21. 

1837-1839 — Twenty-one New Counties. 

The changes made in the county boundaries in 1837 and 1839 are shown on 
Map No. 22. 

In 1837, six new counties were created; Livingston (Feb. 27) from LaSalle, 
McLean and unorganized territory to the east; Bureau (Feb. 28) from Putnam; 
Cass, (March 3)from Morgan; Boone, (March 4) from Winnebago; DeKalb, (March 
4) from Kane; and Stephenson, (March 4) from Winnebago and JoDaviess. All 
these were given their present boundaries except Cass, whose southern boun- 
dary was fixed three miles further north than now, and Winnebago was re- 
duced to its present limits. 

In 1839, fifteen new counties were formed, a greater number than in any 
other year of the State's history, and equal to all that have since been created. 
Marshall, (Jan. 9) from Putnam, was given its pi-esent boundaries, except that 
two townships (29 and 30 north, 1 east; from LaSalle) were attached in 1843; 
Brown, (Feb. 1) from Schuyler; DuPage, (Feb. 9) from Cook; and Dane re- 
mained Christian, (Feb. 15 and 26) from Shelby, Montgomery and Sangamon 
was given their present boundaries. Logan, (Feb. 15) from Sangamon, was 
smaller than at present, three whole and three fractional townships from 
Tazewell, (1840) and a fractional township from DeWitt. (1845) having since 
been added to the north. Menard, (Feb. 15) from Sangamon, included, besides 
its present area, about half of Mason county. Scott, (Feb. 16) from Morgan; 
Carroll. (Feb. 22) from JoDaviess; Lee, (P'eb. 27) from Ogle; Jersey, (Feb 28) 
from Greene, and Williamson, (Feb. 28) from Franklin, were given their pres- 
ent boundaries. DeWitt, (March 1) from McLean and Macon, included, besides 
its present area; the northern part of Piatt and a small tract since attached 
to Logan. Lake, (March 1) from McHenry, was given its present boundaries. 
Hardin, (March 2) from Pope contained but about one half its present area; 
and Stark, (March 2) from Knox and Putnam, was given its pi-esent boundaries. 
Those several acts reduced the following ten counties to their present limits: 
Cook, Franklin, Green, JoDaviess, Knox, McHenry, Montgomery, Putnam, 
Sangamon and Schuyler. The western boundary of Hardin was changed Jan. 
8, 1840, from the Grand Pierre creek to the present line between Pope and 
Hardin. The name of Dane county was changed to Christian Feb. 1, 1840. 



11 

1841-1859 — Fifteen New Counties. 

Since 1839 fifteen new counties have been created, making- the total number 
at the present time 102. No new counties have been created since 1859 and 
no important changes made in county boundaries since that year. Map No. 
23 shows the county boundaries as they exist at the present time with the 
date of the formation of each. 

In 1841 Henderson. (January 20) from Warren: Mason from Tazewell and 
Menard; Piatt, (January 27) from DeWitt and Macon; Grundy, (February 17) 
from La Salle; Kendall, (February 19) from La Salle and Kane; Richland, 
(February 24) from Clay and Lawrence; and Woodford. (February 27) from 
McLean and Tazewell, were given their present boundaries, and the following 
eight counties. Clay, Kane, La Salle, Lawrence. McLean, Menard, Tazewell 
and Warren, were reduced to their present limits. 

In 1843. four new counties were created: Massac. (February 8) from Pope 
and Johnson; Moultrie, (February 16) from Shelby and Macon; Cumberland, 
(March 2) from Coles: and Pulaski, (March 3) from Johnson and Alexander, 
were given their present boundaries. Pope, Johnson, Shelby, Macon and 
Alexander were reduced to their present limits. 

In 1845, (February 16) part of Morgan was added to Cass; (February 26) 
part of DeWitt was added to Logan; the line between Fulton and Peoria was 
re-adjusted (February 28), but no new counties were created. 

In 1847, Saline, (February 25) from Gallatin, was given its present bound- 
aries and (Februaiw 20) territory was added to Hardin. By these two acts, 
Gallatin was reduced to its present limits, and with the act of January 8, 
1840, changing the eastern boundary of Pope, Hardin was given its present 
boundaries. 

In 1856. Kankakee. (February 11) from Iroquois and Will, was given its 
present boundaries except that two townships (30 and 21 north, 9 east), were 
added to the western part. February 14, 1855. The act ci-eating Kankakee 
reduced [roquois and Will to their present limits. 

In 1859, Douglas, (February 8) from Coles, was given its present boundaries 
and Coles reduced to its present limits; Ford, (February 17) the latest county 
to be created was formed from unorganized territory which had been at- 
tached to Vermilion since the creation of that county in 1826. Ford was 
given its present boundaries and Vermilion reduced to its present limits. 

During this period and in preceding years as well, a number of laws af- 
fecting county boundaries were enacted which have not been referred to in 
this article for the reason that the changes made by these acts have been so 
unimportant that they could not well be shown on maps so small as those 
following this sketch and intendimg to illustrate it. Some of the lines on 
the maps are not beyond possible controversy. The acts establishing the 
lines are not always clear and are sometimes plainl}' contradictory. When 
Crawford was established in 1816, its western boundary was described as 
"the meridian"; and it has been assumed that the 3rd principal meridian 
was meant. The act creating Fayette in 1821, strictly construed, extended 
its northern limit to the Wisconsin line; but subsequent acts indicate that 
no territory north of the Illinois river was at any time considered a part of 
Fayette. The act of 1825 adding territory to Madison is contradictory in its 
terms and a subsequent act, reciting how this act shall not be construed, 
fails to clarify the original law. The provisions by which unorganized terri- 
tory was "attached'* to organized counties very greatly in terms, and possibly 
in meaning. Such territory is "temporarily attached" by one act "attached 
for county purposes'" by another, for •■judicial purposes" by a third, and still 
other forms are used. One act provides that property in the attached terri- 
tory shall not be taxed for the erection of public buildings in the county to 
which the territory is attached, and another that "the inhabitants residing 
therein shall enjoy all the rights and privileges belonging to the citizens of 
the count}'" to which the territory is attached The act creating Fulton in 
1823 gave to it definite boundaries as shown on Map No. 14, and declared that 



12 

this territory "shall constitute a separate county"; but further declared that 
all the county east of the 4th meridian and north of the Illinois, formerly a 
part of Pike, "shall be attached to and be a part of said county until other- 
wise disposed of by the General Assembly", and it remained so attached until 
disposed of in 1825 by the creation of Peoria and Putnam counties. So it 
seems an open question whether the boundaries of Fulton for 1823 should be 
represented as on Map No. 14, or whether the county should be shown as 
reaching east from the 4th meridian to Lake Michigan, and north from the 
Illinois river to the Wisconsin line. Many such problems present themselves 
in considering these maps. But reference is made in each case to the act 
establishing the county and the interested reader may readily consult the 
creative act and reconstruct the map to correspond with his interpretation of 
its meaning. The purpose of the maps and of the descriptive matter accom- 
panying them is to give to those interested in this branch of the State's 
history, a reasonably correct idea of the evolution of the counties of Illinois. 
It is believed that the maps are substantially correct and that few material 
errors will be found in the text explaining them. 

Besides the 102 counties above enumerated, 13 other counties with names 
assigned and boundaries fixed, have been authorized by legislative enactment 
but failed to complete their organizations under the several enabling acts 
creating them: The counties of Coffee and Michigan in 1837: Allen and Okaw 
in 1841; Audubon, Benton, Marquette and Milton in 1843; Highland in 1847; 
Oregon in 1851; Harrison in 1855: Holmes in 1857 and Lincoln in 1867. Coffee, 
(March 1, 1837) was identical in boundaries with Stark, except that it con- 
tained one more township, now the southeastern township of Henry. Michi- 
gan, (March 2. 1837) contained, besides the present territory of DuPage county, 
that part of Cook lying north of DuPage and south of Lake and McHenry. 
Audubon (February 6, 1843) consisted of a rectangular tract, south of 
Christian county, running 12 miles south and 15 miles west, from the south- 
east corner of Christian and included parts of the present counties of Shelby, 
Fayette and Montgomery. Okaw (February 4, 1841) was almost identical in 
area with the present county of Moultrie, but extended three miles further 
west, and the zig-zag line forming its southwestern boundary was somewhat 
different. Marquette, (February 11, 1843) from Adams county, included town- 
ships 1 and 2 north and 1, 2 and 3 south, ranges 5 and 6 west of the 4th prin- 
cipal meridian, with six sections off the east side of township 1 south, 7 west. 
Highland (February 27, 1847) included all the territory assigned to Marquette 
in 1843, together with the eastern third of townships 1 and 2 north, 7 west 
and six additional sections from township 1 south, 7 west. Allen, Benton 
and Oregon included much territory in common from the southwestern part 
of Sangamon, the southeastern part of Morgan and the northern part of 
Macoupin. Allen (February 27, 1841) contained townships 12. 13, 14 and 
south half of 15 north, ranges 7 and 8 west; 12 and 13 and part of 14, range 9; 
and the western third of 12 north, 6 west. It took nearly an equal amount 
of territory from each of the three counties of Macoupin, Sangamon and 
Moi'gan. Benton (March 4, 1843) extended further west and south than 
Allen, but not so far east; its eastern boundary being the line between 
Morgan and Sangamon counties. Compared with Allen it took more territory 
from Morgan, less from Macoupin, a considerable tract from the north- 
eastern part of Greene and none from Sangamon, but gained nearly enough 
from Morgan and Greene to balance the loss from Sangamon. Oregon 
(February 15, 1851) was very similar in outline to the old county of Allen, 
formed ten years earlier, but extended further east, taking in township 13 
north, 6 west, and the eastern two-thirds of 12 north, 6 west, and its north- 
ern boundary extended a mile f urther north than that of Allen. 

Another group of proposed counties in the eastern part of the State also 
covered much territory in common. Milton, (February 21, 1843) from the 
southern part of Vermilion county, included nearly one-third of the area of 
that county. Harrison, (February 14, 1855) mostly from the eastern part of 
McLean, included also portions of the present counties of Ford and Cham- 



13 

paign. Holmes, (January 15, 1837) similar in shape to the present county of 
Ford, but larger in area, reaching twelve miles further north, six miles 
further south and three miles further east along its southern boundary, con- 
tained, besides the present area of Ford, portions of Kankakee, Champaign 
and Vermilion. Lincoln (March 9, 1867) occupied a strip from two to eight 
miles wide and thirty-six miles in length, along the eastern side of Cham- 
paign, and a somewhat wider strip of the same length from the western side 
of Vermilion. This included a part of the territory assigned to Milton in 
1843 and to Holmes in 1857, as Holmes had included a part of Harrison 
formed in 1855. 



14 



COUNTIES OF ILLINOIS—DATES OF FORMATION. 



1790. St. Clair, April 27. 

1795. Randolph. October 5. 

1812. Gallatin, Johnson and Madison, September 14. 

1814. Edwards, November 28. 

1815. White, December 9. 

1816. Monroe, January 6; Jackson and Pope, January 10; Crawford, 
December 31. 

1817. Ikmd, January 4. 

1818. Franklin, Union and Washing-ton, January 2. 

1819. Alexander, March 4; Clark, March 22; Jefferson and Wayne, March 
26. 

1821. Lawrence. January 16; Greene, January 20; Sangamon, January 30; 
Pike, January 31; Hamilton, February 8; Montgomery, February 12; Fayette, 
February 14. 

1823. Edgar, January 3; Marion. January 24; Fulton, January 28; Morgan, 
January 31. 

1824. Clay. December 23: Clinton and Wabash, December 27. 

1825. Calhoun. January 10: Adams, Hancock, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Peoria, 
Putnam, Schuyler and Warren, January 13. 

1826. Vermilion, January 18; McDonough, January 25. 

1827. Shelby, January 23: Perry, January 29: Tazewell, January 31; Jo- 
Daviess, February 27. 

1829. Macoupin, January 17: Macon, January 19. 

1830. Coles and McLean, December 25. 

1831. Cook and LaSalle. January 15; Rock Island, February 9; Effingham 
and Jasper, February 15. 

1833. Champaign, February 20: Iroquois, February 26. 

1836. Will, January 12; Kane, McHenry, Ogle, Whiteside and Winnebago, 
January 16. 

1837. Livingston. February 27: Bureau, February 28; Cass, March 3; 
Boone, DeKalb and Stephenson, March 4. 

1839. Marshall. January 19; Brown, February 1; DuPage, February 9: 
Christian, Logan and Menard. February 15; Scott, February 16; Carroll. 
February 22; Lee, February 27: Jersey and Williamson, February 28; DeWitt 
and Lake, March 1; Hardin and Stark, March 2. 

1841. Henderson, Mason and Piatt, January 20: Grundy, February 17; 
Kendall. February 19; Richland. February 24: Woodford, February 27. 

1843. Massac, February 8; Moultrie, February 16: Cumberland, March 2; 
Pulaski. March 3. 

1S47. Saline. February 2.".. 

1853. Kankakee, February 11. 

1859. Douglas, February 8; Ford. February 17. 

■ [Note— The dates given above are the dates on which the proclamation was issued or the 
act approved without reference to the time of taking effect.] 



16 



1790-ST. CLAIR AND KNOX. 

As counties of the Northwest Territory. 

April 27 — County of St. Clair set off as follows : Beginning at the mouth of the Little 
Michilmacinack river, running thence southerly in a direct line to the mouth of the little river 
above Fort Massac, on the Ohio river; thence with the Ohio to its junction with the Missis- 
sippi; thence with the Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois river; and so up the Illinois 
river to the place of beginning, with all the adjacent islands of the said Illinois and Missis- 
sippi rivers. St. Clair county divided into three judicial districts, viz.: Cahokia, Prairie du 
Rocher, and Kaskaskia; in each of which sessions of the several courts should be held during 
he year in the same manner as if each district represented a distinct county. 

[Territorial Records of the Northwest Territory, St. Clair Papers, volume 2, page 165. J 

June 20— A county named Knox was laid off with the following boundaries: Beginning 
at the Standing Stone Forks of the Great Miami river ami down the said river to the conflu- 
ence with the Ohio river; thence with the Ohio river to the small stream or rivulet above Kort 
Massac: thence with the eastern line of St. Clair county to the mouth of the Little Michilmac- 
inack; thence up the Illinois river to the forks or confluence of the Theokiki [Kankakee] and 
Chicago [Des PlainesJ : thence by a line to be drawn due north to the boundary of the Terri- 
tory of the United States, and so far easterly upon said boundary line as that a due south line 
may be drawn to the place of beginning. 

[Territorial Records of the Northwest Territory, St. Clair Papers, volume 2, page 166. J 



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1791-RANDOLPH. 

As a county of the Northwest Territory. 
A Proclamation. 

Whereas, the division of the county or St. Clair into districts has not been found to give 
that ease and facility to the administration of j n stice which was expected, and the great extent 
of the country would render it almost impracticable were the courts to be held at one place 
only, it has, therefore, become necessary that it should be divided and a new county erected. 
Now, know ye, that by virtue of the power vested in me by the United States, I have ordered 
and ordained, and by these presents, do order and ordain, that all and singular, the lands 
lying: and being within the following boundaries, viz: Beginning at the Cave spring, a little 
south of the New Design, and running thence due east to the line of the county of Knox, ana 
thence south with that line to the Ohio river, thence with the Ohio to the Mississippi, thence 
■with the Mississippi to the parallel of the said Cave spring, and thence to the place of begin- 
ning, shall be a county named and hereafter to be known and called by the name of Ran- 
dolph, which said county of Randolph shall have and enjoy, all and singular, jurisdiction 
and rights, liberties and immunities whatsoever to a county appertaining, and which any 
county that now is or hereafter may be erected and laid out shall ot ought to enjoy conformably 
to the ordinance of Congress for the government of the Territory northwest of the river Ohio, 
bearing date the loth day of July, 1787. 

In testimony, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Territory to be 
-affixed, at Cahokia, in the county of St. Clair, the 5th day of October, in the year of our Lord 
1795, and of the Independence of the United States the twentieth. 

Arthur St. Clair. 

[Territorial records of the Northwest Territory. St. Clair papers. Vol. 2, p. 345.] 



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1801-ST. CLAIR AND RANDOLPH. 

As counties of the Territory of Indiana. 

February 3— The Governor issued a proclamation altering the boundary lines of the coun- 
ties of Knox and Randolph and St. Clair as follows, towit: The boundary of the County of 
Randolph shall begin on the Ohio river at a place called the Great Cave below the Saline Lick, 
thence by a direct north line until it intersects an east and west line running from the Missis- 
sippi through the Sink Hole spring, thence along the said line to the Mississippi, thence down 
the Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio, and up the Ohio to the place of beginning. 

The County of St. Clair shall be bounded on the south by the before mentioned east and 
west line running from the Mississippi through the Sink Hole spring to the intersection of the 
north line running from the Great Cave aforesaid, thence from the said point of intersection by 
a direct line to the mouth of the great Kennoumic river falling into the southerly bend of 
Lake Michigan, thence by a direct northeast line to the division line between the Indiana and 
Northwestern Territories, thence along the said line to the Territorial boundary of the United 
States and along the said boundary line to the intersection thereof with the Mississippi, and 
down the Mississippi to the place of beginning. 

[Executive Journal of Indiana Territory, p. 98.] 



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1803-ST. CLAIR AND RANDOLPH. 

As counties of Indiana Territory; boundaries changed. 

March 25— Sundry petitions having been presented to the Governor from a number of the 
citizens of the County of Randolph, complaining of the great distance from the seat of justice 
of their county, and praying that the line dividing the counties of Randolph and St. Clair 
may be so altered as to annex them to the latter, the Governor issued a proclamation declar- 
ing the line separating the counties of Randolph and St. Clair shall begin on the Mississippi 
river four miles and thirty-two chains south of the point where the present division line 
intersects the Mississippi Bottom, thence by a direct line to the Sink Hole springs, thence 
by a line north sixty degrees East until it intersects a north line running from the Great Cave 
on the Ohio river, and the alterations and boundaries so established shall take place from 
and after the first day of May next. 

[Executive Journal of Indiana Territory, page 117.] 



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1809-ST. CLAIR AND RANDOLPH. 

As counties of Illinois Territory. 

A Proclamation by Nathaniel Pope, Secretary of the Territory of 
Illinois and exercising the Government Thereof. 

By virtue of the powers vested in the Governor for the prevention of crimes and injuries 
and for the execution of process civil and criminal within the Territory; 1 have thought 
proper to, and bv this proclamation do, divide the Illinois Territory into two counties to be 
called the County of St. Clair and the County of Randolph. The county of Ran- 
dolph shall include all that part of the Illinois Territory lying" south of the line divid- 
ing the counties of Randolph and St. Clair as it existed under the government of the Indiana 
Territory on the last day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and nine. And 
the County of St. Clair shall include all that part of tne Territory which lies north of said line 

Done at Kaskaskia, the 28th day of April, 1809, and of the Independence of the United 
States the thirty-third. 

Nat. Pope. 

[Territorial Records of Illinois, p. 3.] 



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MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1809. 

( ILLINOIS TY. ) 



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-A V / FRANKLIN IhAMILTONI 



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^PULASKli MASSACS 



26 



1812-MADISON, GALLATIN AND JOHNSON. 

As counties of Illinois Territory. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

By virtue of the powers vested in the Governor of the Territory, I do hereby lay off a 
county or district to be called the County of Madison to be included within the following 
bounds, viz.: To begin on the Mississippi, to run with the second township line above 
Cahokia east until it strikes the dividing- line between the Illinois and Indiana Territories; 
thence with said divining line to the line of Upper Canada; thence with said line to the Mis- 
sissippi; and thence down the Mississippi to the beginning. I do appoint the house of Thomas 
Kirkpatrick to be the seat of justice of said county. 

I do also lay off a county or district to be called the County of Gallatin, to be bound- 
ed as follows, viz.: To begin at the mouth of Lusk's Creek on the Ohio, running up with 
said creek to Miles' Trace; thence along said trace to Big Muddy; thence up Big Muddy to its 
source; thence north to the line of St. Clair County; thence with said line to the Wabash; 
thence down the Wabash and Ohio, to the beginning. And I do appoint Shawnee Town to 
be the seat of justice of Gallatin County. 

And I do lay off a county or district to be called Johnson County to be bounded as fol- 
lows, viz.: To begin at the mouth of Lusk's Creek on the Ohio; thence with the line of Gal- 
latin county to Big Muddy; thence down Big Muddy and the Mississippi to the mouth of the 
Ohio, and up the Ohio to the beginning. And I do appoint the house of John Bradshaw to 
be the seat of justice for Johnson County. 

Done at Kaskaskia the 14th day of September, 1812, and the Independence of the United 
States the thirty-seventh. 

By the Governor: Ninian Edwards. 

Nat. Pope, Secretary. 

[Territorial Records of Illinois, page 26. [ 



28 



1813-COUNTY BOUNDARIES RE-ADJUSTED, 

By Territorial Legislature. 

An Act Establishing the Boundary Lines of Gallatin County. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois 
Territory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That the line of Gallatin' 
County do begin at the mouth of Lusk's creek on the Ohio river, running up with said creek 
to Miles' old Trace; thence along said Trace to the meridian line which runs north fioin the 
mouth of the Ohio river; thence north with said line to the lower line of Madison county; 
thence with said line to the dividing line between Illinois and Indiana Territories; thence 
with said line to the mouth of the Wabash, and thence down the Ohio to the beginning. 

Approved Dec. 11, 1813. 



An Act Establishing the Boundary Line Between the Counties of Randolph 

and St. Clair. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois 
Territory and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That the boundary line be- 
tween St. Clair, Randolph and Gallatin counties shall begin at the Mississippi river on the 
line between townships 3 and 4 south of the base line (which is near Cahokia) ; thence run- 
ning east along said line between townships 3 and 4 aforesaid to the meridian line which runs 
north from the mouth of the Ohio river; thence along said meridian line until it intersects the 
lower (or southern) boundary of the county of Madison. This act to be in force from and 
after its passage. 

Approved Dec. 11, 1813. 

[Territorial Laws 1813; Manuscript Nos. 428, 429; unpublished.] 



No. 7 






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MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1813. 

( ILLINOIS TY.) 



J / 

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A N DJO L°P H 



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30 



1S14-15-ED WARDS AND WHITE. 

As counties of Illinois Territory. 

An Act for the Division of Gallatin County. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Ter- 
ritory and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same. That all that tract of country within 
the following boundaries (to wit) : Beginning at the mouth of Bompast [Bon Pas] creek on 
the Big Wabash, and running thence due west to the meridian line which runs due north 
from the mouth of the Ohio river; thence with said meridian line and due north until it 
strikes the line of Upper Canada; thence with the line of Upper Canada to the line that separ- 
ates this Territory from the Indiana Territory; and thence with said dividing line to the be- 
ginning shall constitute a seperate county, to be called Kdwards. 

Approved this 28th day of November, 1814. 

[Territorial Laws, 1814, Pope's Digest, p. 85.] 

An Act for the Division of Gallatin County. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Ter- 
ritory, and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same, That all that tract of country within 
the following boundaries (to wit) : Beginning at the mouth of the Little Wabash, running up 
the same to Joseph Boon's mill; thence due west to the third principal meridian; thence with 
Edwards county line east to the Big Wabash, thence down the same to the beginning shall 
constitute a separate county, to be called White. 

A pproved this 9th day of December, 1815 . 

[Territorial Laws, 1815-16, p. 5] 



•>1 



No. 8 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1815. 

( ILLINOIS TY.) 



■ ■ 



32 



1816-JACKSON, POPE, MONROE AND CRAWFORD. 
As counties of Illinois Territory. 

MONROE. Jan. 6— Beginning on the Mississippi river where the baseline, which is about 
three-fourths of a mile below Judge Biggs's present residence, strikes the said 
river; thence with the base line until it strikes the first township line therefrom; 
thence southeast to the southeast corner of township two south, range nine west; 
thence south to the southeast corner of township four north, range nine west; thence south- 
westwardly to the Mississippi, so as to include Alexander McNabb's farm, and thence up the 
Mississippi to the beginning shall constitute a separate county, to be called Monroe. 

[Territorial Laws, 1815-16, p. 25.] 

JACKSON. Jan. 10— Beginning at the mouth of the Big Muddy river and running up 
the same to the township line between ten and eleven; thence east with said line to the prin- 
cipal meridian line running from the mouth of the Ohio river; thence north with the meridian 
line thirty miles; thence west twenty-four miles to the corner of range between four and rive 
west of the principal meridian line ; thence south six miles to the township corner between six 
and seven; thence to the headwaters of the creek called Gagnicand down it to the Mississippi; 
thence down the Mississippi to the beginning shall be a separate and distinct county and 
called and be known bv the name of Jackson. 

[Territorial Laws, 1815-16, p. 62.] 

POPE. Jan. 10-Beginning on the Ohio river where the meridian line leaves it that 
divides ranges number three and four east of the third principal meridian; thence north to 
the township line dividing townships ten and eleven south; thence east eighteen miles; 
thence to that point on the Ohio where the line dividing ranges eight and nine leaves it; 
thence down the same to the beginning shall constitute a separate county, to be called and 
known bv the name of Pope. 

[Territorial Laws, 1815-16, p. 66.]* 

CRAWFORD. Dec. 31— Beginning at the mouth of the Embarras and running with said 
river to the intersection of the line dividing townships number three and four north, of range 
eleven west, of the second principal meridian; thence west with said township line to the 
meridian and due north until it strikes the line of Upper Canada; thence to the line that sep- 
arates this territory from the state of Indiana; and thence south with s .id dividing'line to the 
beginning shall constitute a separate county, to be called Crawford. 

[Territorial Laws, 1816-17, p. 21.] 

*Note- The northeastern line of Pope county was changed by act of Dec . 26, 1816, and estab- 
lished as follows: "Beginning at Rock and Cave [Cave-in-.Rock] on the Ohio river; thence 
a straight line to the corner of Townships number ten and eleven south and ranges number 
seven and eight, east of the third principal meridian." 

[Territorial Laws, 1816-17, p. 10] 



66 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1816. 

(ILLINOIS TY.) 



—3 CI 



f RANK UN CO. CHI 



34 



1817-BOND. 
As a county of Illinois Territory. 

BUND. Jan 4— Beginning at , the southwest corner of township number three north of 
range four west: thence east to the southeast [west] corner of township number three north of 
range number one east, to the the third principal meridian line; thence north to the boundary 
line of the territory; thence west with said boundary line so far that a south line will pass be- 
tween ranges four and five west;thence south with said line to the beginning, shall constitute 
a separate county to be called Bond. 

[Territorial Laws, 1816-17, p. 28.] 



6h 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1817. 

(ILLINOIS TY.) 



■ 



36 



1818-FRANKLIN, UNION AND WASHINGTON. 

As counties of Illinois Territory. 

FRANKLIN. Jan. 2— Beginning at the corner of township ten and eleven on the line be- 
tween ranges four and five [east] ; thence north with said line thirty-six miles: thence west 
twenty-four miles to the third principal meridian :thence south with the same to the line divid- 
ing tov> nships ten and eleven ; thence east to the beginning, shall constitute a separate county 
to be called Franklin. 

[Territorial Laws, 1817-18, p. 11.] 

UNION. Jan. 2— Beginning on the range line between ranges one and two east, at come 
of townships ten and eleven south; thence south along the said range line eighteen miles to 
the corner of townships thirteen and fourteen south; thence west along the township line 
between townships thirteen and fourteen south to the Mississippi river; thence up the Miss- 
issippi river to the mouth of the Big Muddy river; thence up the Big Muddy river to where 
the township line between townships ten and eleven south crosses the same; thence east along 
the said township line to the beginning shall constitute a separate county to be called Union 
County: Provided, however, that all that tract of country lying south of township thirteen 
south, to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,, and west of the range line between ranges one and 
two east shall, until the same be formed into a separate county, be attached to and be a part 
of Union County. 

[Territorial Laws, 1817-18, p. 15.] 

WASHINGTON. Jan 2— Commencing at the north west corner of township numbertwo 
north, range number five west; thence east to the north east [corner] of township number two 
north on the third principal meridian line; thence south with the said meridian line to the 
southeast corner of township number three south; thence west Jto the southwest corner of 
township three south, of range five west; thence north between ranges five and six west, to 
the beginning, shall constitute a separate and distinct county to be called Washington. 

[Territorial Laws, 1817-18, p. 39.] 

JOHNSON. Jan. 2— Boundaries re-defined. Beginning on the range line between 
ranges four and five east of the third principal meridian at the corner between townships ten 
and eleven south of the base line; thence south along the said range line to the Ohio river; 
thence down along the Ohio river to where the range line between ranges one and two east 
intersects said river; thence north along the said range line to the corner of townships ten 
and eleven south to the beginning. And all that part of Pope County which is included within 
this boundarv shall here after be attached to and form a part of Johnson County. 

[Territorial Laws, 1817-18, p. 15.] 



87 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1818. 

(ILLINOIS TY.) 



RAntii.iMce.eHi 



88 



1819-ALEXANDER, CLAKK, JEFFERSON AND WAYNE. 

As counties of the State of Illinois. 

ALEXANDER. March 4— All that tract of country within the following boundaries, to- 
wit: West of the line between ranges 1 and 2 east of the third principal meridian and 
south of the line between townships I3and 14 south of the base line to the boundaries of this 
State on the Ohio and Mississippi, shall constitute a countv to be called Alexander. 

[Laws 1819, p. 113.] 

CLARK. March 22— All that part of Crawford county lying north of a line beginning on 
the Great Wabash river dividing townships 8 and 9 north, running due west, shall form a 
new and separate county to be called Clark. 

[Laws 1819, p. 166.] 

JEFFERSON. March 26 — Beginning where the line between ranges 4 and 5 east in- 
tersects the base line; thence west with said line to the third principal meridian; thence south 
twenty-four miles; thence east twenty-four miles: thence north to the place of beginning, 
shall constitute a separate county to be called Jefferson. 

[Laws 1819, p. 267.] 

WAYNE. March 26— Beginning on the White county line on the line dividing ranges 9 
and 10 east of the third principal mendian; thence north to the line dividing townships 3 and 
4, to the Crawford county line, north of the base line; thence west to the line dividing ranges 
4 and 5 east of the third principal meridian line; thence south to the White county line; thence 
east to the beginning, shall constitute a separate countv to be called Wayne. 

[Laws 1819, p. 268.] 



> 



40 



1821-LAWRENCE, GREENE, SANGAMON, PIKE, HAMILTON, 
MONTGOMERY AND FAYETTE. 

LAWRENCE. Jan. 16.— Beginning on the Great Wabash seven miles north of the 
base line, thence west to the Wayne county line; thence north two miles north of town i; 
thence east to the Wabash; thence with that river to the place of beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 16.] 

GREENE. Jan. 20.— Beginning at the southeast corner town 7 north, 10 west of third 
principal meridian; thence north between ranges 9 and 10 to the northeast corner of town 12 
north; thence west along the line between towns 12 and 13 to the middle of the Illinois; thence 
down said river to the Mississippi; thence down the middle of the river to a point parallel with 
the southwest corner of town 6 north, 10 west; thence north with the range line between 10 
and 11, to the township line between 6 and 7; thence east with said township line to the place 
of beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 26.] 

SANGAMON. Jan. 30.— From the northeast corner of town 12 north, 1 west of third 
principal meridian, north with that meridian to the Illinois river; down the middle of the river 
to the mouth of Balance or Negro (Indian) creek; up said creek to its head; thence through 
the middle of the prairie dividing the waters of the Sangamon and Mauvaise Terre to the 
northwest corner of town 12 north, 7 west of the third principal meridian; thence east along 
the north line of town 12 to the place of beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 45.] 

PIKE. January 31.— Up the middle of the Illinois river from its mouth to the fork; up the 
south fork(Kankakee)to the Indiana state line; north with the state line to the north boundary 
of the State; west with said State line to the west boundary of the State; thence with said bound- 
ary to the place of beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 59.] 

HAMILTON. Feb. 8.— South from the southern line of Wayne county, on the line 
dividing ranges 7 and 8 east, to Gallatin county; thence west eighteen miles to Franklin; 
thence north to the Wavne county line; thence east to the beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 113.] 

MONTGOMERY. Feb. 12— West from the southeast corner of section 24, town 7 north, 
2 west, to the southwest corner section 19. town 7 north, 4 west; thence south to southeast corner 
of town 7 north, 5 west; thence west to southwest corner of said township; thence north to 
northwest corner of town 12 north, 5 west; thence east to northeast corner of town 12 north, 2 
west:thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1821, p. 142.] 

FAYETTE. Feb. 14.— All that tract of country lying north of a line running east from the 
southwest corner of town 3 north, 1 west, to the southeast corner of town 3 north, 6 east of the 
third principal meridian.* 

[Laws 1821, p. 164.] 



*Note.— A strict construction of this act would make the entire western boundary of Fay- 
ette county the line between ranges one and two west, and extend its northern boundary to 
the Wisconsin line, thus taking one range of townships from the east side of Sangamon 
(formed Jan. 30) and cutting Pike (formed Jan. 31) in two. It is probable that the word "un- 
organized" should be read into the act so as to make it read ' 'all that tract of unorganized 
country lying north" etc. Subsequent acts seem to justify this theory. 



41 



No. 13 




1 



MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1821. 



r«A«*Llfl fS.CKI 



42 



1823-EDGAR, MARION, FULTON AND MORGAN. 

EDGAR. January 3— From the Indiana State line west 24 miles through the center of 
township 12 north; thence north 27 miles; thence east 24 miles; thence south to the beginning. 
[Laws 1823, p. 74.J 

MARION. January 24— From the intersection of the base line with the third principal 
meridian. north along said meridian 24 miles; thence east 24 miles; thence south 24 miles to the 
base line; thence west to the beginning. 

[Laws 1823. p. 49.] 

FULTON. January 28— From the intersection of the fourth principal meridian with the 
Illinois river; thence up the middle of the river till intersected by the range line between ranges 
5 and t> east; thence north with said range line to the line between towns 9 and 10 north; thence 
west with said town line to the fourth principal meridian, thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1823, p. 88.J 

MORGAN. January 31— From the northwest corner of Greene county, east to the range 
line between 7 and 8 west of the third principal meridian; thence northerly along the middle 
of the prairie dividing the waters of the Sangamon from the Mauvaisterre, Apple and Indian 
creeks, to the middle of range 8; thence north to the middle of the main channel of the Sang- 
amon; thence down to the middle of the main channel of the Illinois; thence down the 
Illinois to the beginning. 

[Laws 1823. p. 108.] 



43 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1823. 



2 



44 



1824-CLAY, CLINTON AND WABASH. 

CLAY. Dec. 23— From the intersection of the line dividing- ranges 4 and 5 east with the 
middle line of town 2 north; thence east with said line to the Fox river; thence north with 
said river to the line dividing towns 5 and 6 north ; thence west with said line to the range line 
dividing 4 and 5 east; thence south with said range line to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 19.] 

CLINTON. Dec. 27— Down the Kaskaskia from the mouth of Crooked creek to the line 
dividing St. Clair and Washington; thence north on the range line between 5 and 6 west to the 
northwest corner of town 2 north, 5 west; thence east to the southeast corner of town 3 north, 
5 west; thence north to the northwest corner of town 3 north, 4 west; thence east twenty-four 
miles; thence south along the third principal meridian sixteen miles; thence west to Crooked 
creek; thence down said creek to the beginning. 

[Laws of 1825, p. 27.] 

WABASH. Dec. 27— From the mouth of De Bon Pas creek up the main branch to the 
south line of Lawrence county; thence east to the Wabash; thence down the Wabash to the 
place of beginning'. 

rLawsl825, p. 25.] 



45 



No. 15 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1824. 



46 



1825— TEN NEW COUNTIES. 

CALHOUN. Jan. 10— All that tract of country between the Illinois and Mississippi 
rivers south of the line between townships 7 and 8 south. 
[Laws 1825, p. 65.] 

ADAMS. Jan. 13— From the southeast corner town 3 south, 5 west of the fourth prin- 
cipal meridian, west to the Mississippi; thence up the river to the line between towns 2 and 3 
north; thence east to the northeast corner of town 2 north, 5 west; thence south to the begin- 
ning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 93.] 

HANCOCK. Jan. 13— East from the Mississippi on the line between towns 2 and 3 
north, to the line between ranges 4 and 5 west, of the fourth principal meridian; thence north 
to the line between towns 7 and 8 north; thence west to the Mississippi; thence down the 
river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 93.] 

HENRY. Jan. 13— East from the fourth principal meridian on the line between towns 

12 and 13 north, to the line between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence north to the Wisconsin state 
line; thenc** west to the fourth principal meridian; thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 94.] 

KNOX. Jan. 13— East from the fourth principal meridian on the line between towns8and 
9 north, to the line between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence north to the line between towns 12 and 

13 north; thence west to the fourth principal meridian; thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 94.] 

MERCER. Jan. 13— East from the Mississippi on the line between towns 12 and 13 north, 
to the fourth principal meridian ; thence north to the Wisconsin state line; thence west to the 
Mississippi: thence down the river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 93.] 

PEORIA. Jan. 13— West from the Illinois on the line between towns 11 and 12 north, to 
the line between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence south to the line between towns 7 and 8 north; 
thence east to the line between ranges 5 and 6 east; thence south to the Illinois; thence up the 
river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825. p. 85.] 

PUTNAM. Jan. 13— Up the Illinois from the line between towns 11 and 12 north, to the 
south fork [Kankakee] ; thence up said fork to the Indiana state line; thence north along said 
line to the northeast corner of the State; thence west to the line between ranges! and 5 east; 
thence south to the line between towns 11 and 12 north ; thence east to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 94.] 

SCHUYLER. Jan. 13— West from the Illinois on the line between towns 2 and 3 south, 
to the line between ranges 4 and 5 west; thence north to the line between towns 3 and 4 north ; 
thence east to the fourth principal meridian; thence south to the line between towns 2 and 3 
north; thence east to the Illinois; thence down the river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 92.] 

WARREN. Jan. 13— East from the Mississippi on the line between towns 7 and 8 north, 
to the fourth principal meridian; thence north to the line between towns 12 and 13 north; 
thence west to the Mississippi ; thence down the river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 93.] 

SANGAMON. Dec. 23— Boundary re-defined, decreasing area. North from the south- 
east corner of town 13 north, 1 west, to the north line of town 20; thence west to the middle of 
the Illinois; thence down to the mouth of the Sangamon; thence up the Sangamon to the 
middle of range 8 west; thence south with the east line of Morgan to the south line of town 13 
north ; thence east to the beginning. 

[Laws 1825, p. 20.] 

MADISON. Jan. 3-Territorv added. 
[Laws 1825, p. 53.] 

MONROE. Jan. 15— Territory added. 

[Laws 1825, p. 109. Also Jan. 9, Private laws 1827, p. 8, and Jan. 20, Laws 1829, [p. 31.1 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1825. 






48 



1826-VERMILION AND McDONOUGH. 

VERMILION. Jan. 18— West from the Indiana state line on the line between towns 16 
and 17 north, to the line between ranges 9 and 10 east; thence north to the line between 
towns 22 and 23 north; thence east to the Indiana state line; thence south to the place of 
beginning. 

[Laws 182S, p. 50.] 

McDONOUGH. Jan. 25— West from the fourth principal meridian on the line between 
towns 7 and 8 north, to the line between ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south to the line between 
towns 3 and 4 north; thence east to the fourth principal meridian; thence north to the place 
of beginning. 

[Laws 1826, p. 76.] 



49 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1826. 



— 4 C I 



50 



1827-SHELBY, PERRY, TAZEWELL AND JO DAVIESS. 

SHELBY. Jan. 23— North thirty miles from the northwest corner of section 19, town 9 
north, 1 east of the third principal meridian to the northwest corner of section 19, town 14 
north, 1 east; thence east thirty-six miles to the northeast corner of section 24, town 14 north, 
fieast; thence south thirty miles to the southeast corner of section 13, town 9 north, 6 east: 
thence west thirty-six miles to the place of beginning. 

[Laws 1827, p. 115.] 

PERRY. Jan. 29— West from the third principal meridian on the line between towns 3 and 
4 south to line between ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south to the line between towns 6 and 7 
south; thence east to the third principal meridian; thence north to the place of beginning. 

[Laws 1827, p. 110.] 

TAZEWELL. Jan. 31— North from the northeast corner of town 20 north, [3] east of the 
third principal meridian to the line between towns 28 and 29 north; thence west to the Illinois; 
thence down the river to the line between towns 20 and 21 north; thence east to the beginning. 

[Laws 1827, p. 113.J 

Note— This act does not clearly indicate the place of beginning, but the act of Jan. 22, 
1829, fixes the initial point at the northeast corner of town 20 north, 3 east of the third prin- 
cipal meridian. 

JO DAVIESS. Feb. 17— From the northwest corner of the State down the Mississippi to 
the northern line of the Military Tract [the line between towns 15 and 16 north] ; thence east 
to the Illinois; thence north to the Wisconsin state line; thence west to the place of begin- 
ning. 

[Laws 1827, p. 117.] 

Note— By this act Putnam was divided into two distinct tracts. 

MONROE. Jan. 15— Territory added. East line carried to the Kaskaskia. 
[Private Laws 1827, p. 8.] 



51 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1827. 



FMHkiKHce.cni. 



52 



1829-1831-NINE NEW COUNTIES. 

MACOUPIN. Jan. 17, 1829— East from the southwest corner of town 7 north, 9 west, to 
the southwest corner of Montgomery: thence north to the south line of Sangamon; thence 
west to the line between ranges 9 and 10 west; thence south to the beginning. 
[Laws 1829, p. 26.] 

MACON. Jan. 19, 1829— North on the third principal meridian from the southwest corner 
of section 18, town 14 north, 1 east, to the line between towns 20 and 21 north; thence east to 
the line dividing ranges 6 and 7 east; thence south to the southeast corner of section 13, town 
14 north, 6 east; thence west to the beginning. 

[Laws 1829, p. 28.J 

COLES. Dec. 25, 1830— West from the northeast corner of section 4, town 16 north, 14 
west, of second principal meridian to the line between ranges 6 and 7 east of the third principal 
meridian ; thence south to the southeast corner of town 9 north, 6 east, thence east to the south - 
east corner of section 31(the east line of fractional range 11 east) ;thence north to the northeast 
corner of section 19, town 12 north, 11 east of the third principal meridian; thence east to the 
north east corner of section 21, town 12 north, 14 west of the second principal meridian ; thence 
north on the section lines through the middle of range 14 west to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 59.] 

McLEAN. Dec 25, 1830— North from the southwest corner of town 21 north, 1 west, of the 
third principal meridian to the line dividing towns 28 and 29 north ;thence east to the line divid- 
ing ranges 6 and 7 east;thence south to the southeast corner of town 21 north, 6 east;thence west 
to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 31.] 

COOK. Jan. 15, 1831— West from the Indiana state line on the line dividing towns 33 and 
34 north to the line dividing ranges 8 and 9 east of the third principal meridian ; thence north 
to the Wisconsin state line; thence east to the northeast corner of the state; thence south- 
wardly along the state line to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 54.] 

LA SALLE. Jan 15, 1831— South from the southwest corner of Cook 30 miles; thence 
west to the third principal meridian; thence north 48 miles; thence east to Cook; thence south 
to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 54.] 

PUTNAM (re-defined). Jan. 15, 1831— East from the southwest corner of town 12 north, 
6 east to the Illinois; thence down the river to the south line of town 29 north; thence east to 
the third principal meridian : thence north 22 miles; thence west to the northwest corner of 
town 18 north. 6 east of the fourth principal meridian; thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 54.] 

ROCK ISLAND. Feb. 9, 1831— East from middle of the main channel of the Mississippi 
with the north line of town 15 north to the fourth principal meridian; thence north to Rock 
river; thence up the middle of the main channel to its confluence with Marais d'ogee slough ; 
thence with the middle of said slough to the Mississippi; thence down the middle of the main 
channel ot the river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 52.] 

EFFINGHAM. Feb. 15, 1831— South from the northwest corner of Jasper to the line be- 
tween towns 5 and 6 north; thence west to the line between ranges 3 and 4 east of the third 
principal meridian; thence nortli to the northwest corner of section 19, town 9 north, 4 east; 
thence east to the northeast corner of section 24, town 9 north, 6 east; thence south to the 
south east corner of town 9 north, 6 east; thence east to the line between ranges 7 and 8 east; 
thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831, p. 51.] 

JASPER. Feb IS, 1831— North with section lines from the southeast corner of section 22, 
town 5 north, 14 west of the- second principal meridian to the north east corner of section 3 
town 8 north, 14 west; thence west to the northwest corner of section 6, town 8 north, 8 east of 
third principal meridian; thence south to the southwest corner of section 19, town 5 north, 8 
east; thence east to the beginning. 

[Laws 1831. p. 51.] 

MONROE. Jan. 20— Southern boundary re-adjusted. 
[Laws 1829, p. 31.] 



58 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1831. 



54 



1833-1835-CHAMPAIGN AND IROQUOIS. 

CHAMPAIGN. Feb. 20, 1833— West from the southwest corner of section 3*, town 16 
north, 14 west of the second principal meridian to the east line of Macon; thence north to the 
line between towns 22 and 23 north; thence east to the northwest corner of section 3, town 22 
north, 14 west; thence south on section lines to the beginning. 

[Private laws 1833, p. 28.]; 

IROQUOIS. Feb. 26, 1833— West from the Indiana state line along the line between 
towns 23 and 24 north, to the line between ranges 9 and 10 east of the third principal meridian ; 
thence north to the south line of Cook; thence east to the Indiana state line; thence south to 
the beginning. 

[Private laws 1833, p. 19.] 

VERMILION. Feb. 26, 1833— Territory added— All that tract lying between the northern 
boundary of Vermilion and the southern boundary of Iroquois, added to Vermilion. 
(Private laws 1833, p. 20.] 

PERRY AND FRANKLTN. Feb. 6, 1835— Boundary between re-defined. The Little 
Muddy declared the boundary line. 
[Laws 1835, p. 36.] 

MORGAN AND SANGAMON. Feb. 12, 1835— Boundary between re-defined, and pro- 
vision made for survey thereof. 
[Laws 1835, p. 62.] 



55 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1835. 






56 



1836-SIX NEW COUNTIES. 

WILL. Jan. 12.— East from the northwest corner of town 37 north, range 9 east, to the 
east line of range 10 east; thence south six miles; thence east six miles; thence south six 
miles; thence east six miles; thence south six miles; thence east to the Indiana state line; 
thence south to the Kankakee; thence down the same to the north line of town 31 north; 
thence west to the west line of range 9 east; thence north to the beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 262.] 

KANE. Jan. 16.— South from the northeast corner of town 42 north, 8 east, to the south- 
east corner of town 37 north, 8 east; thence west to the southeast corner of town 37 north, 2 
east; thence north to the north line of town 42; thence east to beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 273.] 

McHENRY. Jan. 16.— West from Lake Michigan on line between towns 42 and 43 north 
to the east line of range 4 east; thence north to the Wisconsin state line; thence east to Lake 
Michigan; thence with the shore of said lake to the beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 273.] 

OGLE. Jan. 16.— North from the southwest corner of town 19 north, 8 east of the fourth 
principal meridian, to the southwe:-t corner of town 26 north, 8 east; thence east to the third 
principal meridian; thence south to the southwest corner of town 43 north, 1 east of the third 
principal meridian ; thence east to the southeast corner of town 43 north, 2 east; thence south 
to the southeast corner of town 37 north, 2 east; thence west to the third principal meridian; 
(hence south to the southeast corner of town 19 north, 11 east of the fourth principal meridian; 
thence west to the beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 274/1 

WHITESIDE. Jan. 16.— West from the southeast corner of town 19 north, 7 east of the 
fourth principal meridian, to Rock river; thence down the middle of the river to the Meredocia 
(Marais d'ogee slough) ; thence with the middle of the Meredocia to the Mississippi; thence 
up the middle of the main channel of the river to the north line of town 22 north ; thence east 
to the southeast corner of town 23 north, 7 east; thence south to the beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 274.] 

WINNEBAGO. Jan. 16.— West from the southeast corner of town 43 north, 4 east of the 
third principal meridian, to the third principal meridian; thence north to the southeast corner 
of town 26 north, 11 east of the fourth principal meridian : thence west to the west line of range 
8 east of the fourth principal meridian ; thence north to the Wisconsin state line; thence east 
to the northeast corner of range 4 east of the third principal meridian ; thence south to the be- 
ginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 273.] 

JO DAVIESS. Jan. 16.— Boundaries re-defined.— East from the Mississippi along the 
north line of town 22 north to the west line of range 8 east of the fourth principal meridian; 
thence north to the Wisconsin state line; thence west to the Mississippi; thence down the 
river to the beginning. 

[Laws 1836, p. 273.] 



57 



No. 21 




58 



1837-1839-TWENTY-ONE NEW COUNTIES. 



1837. 

Livingston Established Feb . 

Bureau Established Feb. 

Cass Established Mar. 

Boone Established Mar. 

DeKalb Established Mar. 

Stephenson Established Mar. 



27 Laws 1837, 

28 Laws 1837, 

3 Laws 1837, 

4 Laws 1837, 

4 Laws 1837, 

4 Laws 1837, 



page 83 

page 93 

page 101 

page 96 

page . 97 

page 96 



Winnebago, boundary re-defined Mar. 4 Laws 1837, page 96 

MeHenry, eastern boundary defined Mar. 4 Lav\sl837, page 89 

Henry, territory detached Mar. 4 Laws 1837, page 89 

Adams, Hancock, Warren and Mercer, western boundary defined, Mar. 4, Laws 1837, page 91 



1839. 

Marshall Established 

Brown Established 

DuPage Established 

Dane (now Christian) Established 

Logan Established 

Menard Established 

Scott Established 

Carroll Established 

Lee Established 

Jersey Established 

Warren Established 

DeWitt Established 

Lake Established 

Hardin Established 

Stark Established 



Jan. 


19... 


. . . . Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


1... 


....Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


9.... 


...Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


15..., 


... Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


15... 


.. ..Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


15.... 


. . Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


16... 


...Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


99 


...Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


27 ... . 


.. Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


28.... 


...Laws 1839, 


Feb. 


28... 


. . . . Laws 1839, 


Mar. 


1.... 


... Laws 1839, 


Mar. 


1.... 


...Laws 1839, 


Mar. 


9 


. .Laws 1839, 


Mar. 


9 


. . . Laws 1839, 



page 43 

page 52 

page 73 

page 104 

page 104 

page 104 

page 126 

page 160 

page 170 

page 208 

page 110 

page 199 

page 216 

page 234 

page 229 



Ogle, territory added Feb. 

Dane, territory added Feb. 

Macon, territory added Mar. 

Hardin-Pope line defined Jan. 

Loeran, territory added Jan. 

Dane, name changed to Christian Feb. 



22 Laws 1839, 

26 Laws 1839, 

2 Laws 1839, 

8, 1840.. Laws 1810, 

29,1840.. Laws 1840, 

1,1840.. Laws 1840, 



page 162 

page 188 

page 265 

page 38 

page 39 

page 80 



59 



No. 22 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 
COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1839. 



60 



1841-59-FIFTEEN NEW COUNTIES. 



Henderson Established Jan. 

Mason Established Jan. 

Piatt Established Jan. 

Grundy Established Feb. 

Kendall Established Feb. 

Richland Established Feb. 

Woodford Established Feb. 

Massac Established Feb . 

Moultrie Established Feb. 

Cumberland Established Mar. 

Pulaski Established Mar. 

Saline Established Feb. 

Kankakee Established Feb. 

Douglas Established Feb. 

Ford Established Feb. 



20, 1841 Laws 1841, 

20, 1841 Laws 1841. 

27, 1841 Laws 1841, 

17, 1841 Laws 1841, 

19, 1841 Laws 1841, 

24, 1841 LawsH41, 

27, 1841 Laws 1841, 

8 and Mar. 3, 1843.. . Laws 1843, 

16, 1843 Laws 1843, 

2, 1843 Laws 1843, 

3, 1843 Laws 1843, 

25, 1847 Private law 

11, 1853 Laws 1853, 

8 and 16, 1859 Laws 1S59, 

17, 1859 Laws 1859, 



page 67 

page 6G 

page 71 

page 74 

page 75 

page 77 

page.. 84 

pages 74, 101 

page 83 

page 94 

page 99 

S1847, page .... 34 

page 159 

pages 24 and 28 

page 29 



Bond, part of Madison added Mar. 2, 

Boone, part of Winnebago added Feb. 28, 

Marshall, part of LaSalle added Mar. 1, 

Menard, part of Sangamon added Mar. 2, 

McHenry, boundary re-defined Feb. 28, 

Pope, part of Massac added Mar. 3, 

Woodford- McLean, boundary line defined. Feb. 28, 

Cass, part of Morgan added Feb. 16, 

Logan, part of DeWitt added Feb. 26, 

Peoria-Fulton, boundary defined Feb. 28, 

Hardin, part of Gallatin added Feb. 20, 

Menard, part of Sangamon added Feb. 28, 

Greene- Jersey, boundary defined Mar. 3, 

Hamilton-Saline, boundary defined Feb. 28, 

White-Gallatin, boundary defined Feb. 28, 

Rock Island-Whiteside, boundary defined. ..Mar. 4, 
Rock Island- Whiteside, repeal Mar. 29, 



1843 Laws 1843, page. 



98 

1843 Laws 1843, page 92 

93 

94 

91 



1843 Laws 1843, page . 

1843 Laws 1843, page. 

1843 Laws 1843, page. 



page 101 

page 91 



page, 
page, 
page . 



1843 Laws 1843, 

1843 Laws 1843, 

1845 Laws 1845, 

1845 Laws 1845. 

1845 Laws 1845, 

1847 Private laws 1847, page 

1847 Private laws 1847, page 

1851 Laws 1851, page 

1854 Laws 1854, page 143 

1854 Laws 1854, page 143 

1854 Laws 1854, page 161 

1869 Laws 1869, page 161 



313 
189 
267 
31 
39 
145 



(51 




02 . 



NAMES OF COUNTIES. 



Six counties of Illinois, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams 
and Jackson, were named for Presidents of the United States; Adams for John 
Quincy Adams, sixth President and not for John Adams, second President as 

is sometimes stated. 

Four counties. Pond, Coles. Edward and Ford, were named, respectively, 
for the first, second, third and seventh Governors of Illinois. Bona received 
its name the year before the election of the first Governor of the State. 

Sixteen counties were named for other citizens of the State, prominent in 
different walks of life. 

Alexander, for William M. Alexander, an early settler of the county hear- 
ing his name and Senator in the second and third General Assemblies of the 
State. 

Cook, for Daniel P. Cook, a pioneer lawyer, first Attorney General of the 
State and Representative in Congress from 1819 to 1827. 

Douglas, for Stephen A. Douglas, an eminent lawyer, brilliant political 
orator, Secretary of State (1840), Representative in Congress (1843-1847), United 
States Senator (1847-1861) and candidate for the Presidency in 1860. 

Edgar, for John Edgar, a pioneer merchant, politician and land speculator. 

Kane, for Elias Kent Kane, a pioneer lawyer, Territorial judge, prominent 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1818, first Secretary of State of 
Illinois, and later United States Senator. 

Logan, for Dr. John Logan, a pioneer physician, father of General John A. 
Logan. 

McHenry, for William McIIenry, a pioneer of White county, soldier of the 
war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war, Representative in the first, fourth, fifth 
and ninth General Assemblies, and Senator in the sixth. 

McLean, for John McLean, a pioneer lawyer, Territorial judge, first repre- 
sentative in Congress from Illinois (1818), and United States Senator (1824- 
1825). 

Menard, for Pierre Menard, a pioneer Indian trader, Colonel of Territorial 
militia and first Lieutenant Governor of the State. 

Ogle, for Joseph Ogle, pioneer politician and Lieutenant of Territorial 
militia. 

Piatt, for Benjamin Piatt, a pioneer lawyer and Attorney General of the 
Territory (1810-1813). 

Pope, for Nathaniel Pope, first Territorial Secretary of State (1809-1816), and 
last Territorial Delegate to Congress from Illinois. 

STEPHENSON, for Benjamin Stephenson, prominent pioneer, a Colonel of Ter- 
ritorial militia and Adjutant General of the Territory (1813-1814). 

White, for Leonard White, pioneer of Gallatin county, Major of Territorial 
militia, member of Constitutional Convention of 1818, State Senator in second 
and third General Assemblies, and killed at battle of Tippecanoe Nov. 7, 1811. 

Whiteside, for Samuel Whiteside, a Colonel of Territorial militia, Repre- 
sentative in the First General Assembly, and Brigadier General of militia dur- 
ing Black Hawk war. 

WlLL, for Conrad Will, a pioneer politician, Territorial Recorder of Jackson 
county, member of the Constitutional Convention of 1818, and member of the 
General Assemblies of the State from the first to ninth, inclusive. 



63 

TwentJ'-two counties were named in honor of military heroes, generally of 
the Revolution, but some of later wars. 

BROWN, for Jacob Brown. Major General during 1 the war of 1812, who won 
distinction at Sacketfs Harbor. Chippewa and Niagara. 

Clark, for George Rogers Clark, a soldier of the Revolution, who. as a Colo- 
nel of Virginia militia, established Colonial control in the Illinois country, by 
the capture of Kaskaskia and Fort Vineennes. 

DeKalr, for .lohann DeKalb, a German baron, who served in the Colonies 
during - the Revolution, and was mortally wounded at Camden. S. C, 1780. 

Greene, for Nathaniel Greene, a Major General in the Revolution, who dis- 
tinguished himself as commander in the Southern Colonies. 

JASPER, for William Jasper, a Sergeant of the Revolution, who, during the 
action in Charleston harbor, replaced the flag shot away at Fort Moultrie, and 
later was killed at Savannah, 177'.). 

JoDAVlESS, for Joseph Hamilton Daviess, pi-ominent lawyer of Kentucky, 
United States District Attorney, and major of militia: killed at the battle of 
Tippecanoe. 1811. 

Johnson, for Richard M. Johnson, a Colonel of Kentucky militia, who served 
in Indian wars and the war of 1812, and reputed to have killed the Indian 
chief. Tecumseh. at the battle of the Thames; Representative in Congress and 
United States Senator from Kentucky and Vice-President, 1837- L841. 

Knox, for Henry Knox, a soldier of the Revolution who commanded the 
storming party at Stony Point, later a Major General and Washington^ Sec- 
retary of War. 

Marion, for Francis Marion, a soldier of the Revolution who distinguished 
himself as a partisan commander in the Carolinas. 

Mercer, for Hugh Mercer, a General of the Revolution, killed at the battle 
of Princeton. 

Montgomery, tor Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary General, of Irish 
birth, who was killed before Quebec, December 31, 1775. 

MoROAN, for Daniel Morgan, a General of the Revolution, who, as com- 
mander of the "Rifle Brigade," served with distinction at Quebec. Saratoga, 
the Cowpens and other important engagements. 

Moultrie, for William Moultrie, a General of the Revolution, who built 
Fort Moultrie and successfully defended it. 

Pike, for Zebulon Pike, an early explorer of the Louisiana purchase. Pike's 
Peak was named in his honor. He was a Ceneral of the war of 1812 and was 
killed at York. Canada. 

l'i laski, for Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish exile who espoused the cause 
of the Colonies during the Revolution and was killed at the attack on Savan- 
nah. 177'.i. 

Putnam, for Israel Putnam, a Major (Jeneral of the Revolution. 

SCHUl LER, for Philip Schuyler, a soldier of the French and Indian wars, a 
Major General of the Revolution, a member of the Continental Congress and 
United States Senator from New York. 

Stark, for John Stark, a soldier of the French and Indian wars, a Major 
General of the Revolution who served with distinction at Bunker Hill, Tren- 
ton. Princeton and Itennington. 

St. Clair, for Arthur St. Clair, a soldier of the French and In ian wars, a 
Major General during the Revolution, Commander-in-Chief of the Army after 
the Revolution, and Governor of the Territory of the United States northwest 
of the Ohio. 

Warren, for Joseph Warren, a physician and soldierwho served at Lexing- 
ton, a Major General of Massachusetts militia: killed at the battle of Bunker 
Hill. 

WAYNE, for Anthony Wayne, a surveyor and politician of Pennsylvania, a 
Major (Jeneral during the Revolution, Commander-in-Chief of the Army after 
General St. Clair, and successful Indian fighter in the Northwest Territory. 

Three counties were named in honor of naval commanders: 

LAWRENCE, for Captain James Lawrence. Commander of the Chesapeake. 

who was mortally wounded in an engagement between that vessel and the 

British vessel, Shannon, during the war of 1812. 



64 

McDonough, for Thomas McDonough, a Commodore of the United States 
Navy, who commanded the fleet on Lake Champlain in a successful engage- 
ment with a British fleet, near Plattsburg, 1814. 

Perry, for Oliver Hazard Perry, a Commodore of the United States Navy, 
who won distinction as Commander of the fleet in the battle of Lake Erie, 
in 1813. 

Twenty-one counties were named for statesmen and politicians, not citizens 
of Illinois, some of whom had distinguished themselves in military as well as 
civil life: 

Calhoun, for John C. Calhoun, a lawyer and statesman, Representative in 
Congress and United States Senator from South Carolina, Secretary of War 
under Monroe, Vice President of the United States, and Secretary of State 
under Tyler, and was recognized as the • -Father of Nullification." 

Carroll, for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a statesman of the Revolutionary 
period, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and United States Senator 
from Maryland. 

Cass, for Lewis Cass, a soldier as well as statesman, Terrtiorial Governor of 
Michigan, Minister to France, United States Senator from Michigan, Secre- 
tary of War under Jackson, Secretary of State under Buchanan, and at one 
time a prominent candidate for the Presidency. 

Clay, for Henry Clay, a statesman and political orator. Representative in 
Congress and United States Senator from Kentucky, three times Speaker of 
the United States House of Representatives, famous as the author of the 
political measures known as the "Missouri Compromise," and a prominent 
candidate for the Presidency. 

Clinton, for DeWitt Clinton, a distinguished lawyer, financier and states- 
man, Mayor of the city and Governor of the State of New York, United States 
Senator, and chief promoter of the Erie Canal. 

Crawford, for William H. Crawford of Georgia. United States Senator, 
Minister to France, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Treasury, and a prom- 
inent candidate for the Presidency in 1824. 

DeWitt, for DeWitt Clinton. (See Clinton county). 

Franklin,' for Benjamin Franklin, philosopher, statesman, diplomatist, au- 
thor, printer, a member of the Continental Congress, Ambassador to France, 
and (before the Revolution) Deputy Postmaster General of the British Colo- 
nies in America. 

Gallatin, for Albert Gallatin, a statesman and financier, Representative 
in Congress from Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Treasury of the United 
States, and Minister to France and England. 

Grundy, for Felix Grundy, a lawyer and politician. United States Senator 
from Tennessee, and Attorney General of the United States. 

Hamilton, for Alexander Hamilton, a soldier, statesman, author and finan- 
cier, aid on the staff of Washington during the Revolution, a member of the 
Continental Congress, first Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795) and Com- 
mander in Chief of the United States Army in 1799. 

Hancock, for John Hancock, a prominent figure of the Revolutionary 
period, a Major General of Militia, President of the Continental Congress, first 
signer of the Declaration, and first Governor of the State of Massachusetts. 

Henry, for Patrick Henry, a lawyer, orator and statesman of the Revolu- 
tionary period, a member of the Continental Congress, and Governor of 
Virginia. 

Kendall, for Amos Kendall, a successful politician and journalist, Post- 
master General under Jackson, and as partner of S. F. B. Morse, the inventor 
of the electric telegraph, he contributed largely to the commercial success of 
that invention. 

Lee, for Richard Henry Lee, an orator and statesman of the Revolutionary 
period, a member of the Continental Congress, a Representative in Congress 
and United States Senator from Virginia. 

LIVINGSTON, for Edward Livingston, a lawyer and statesman, mayor of New 
York City, Representative in Congress from New York and later from Louisi- 
ana, United States Senator from the latter State. Secretary of State under 
Jackson, and United States Minister to France 

Macon, for Nathaniel Macon, a Colonel during the Revolution and later a 
Representative and United States Senator in Congress from North Carolina. 



65 

He strenuously opposed the adoption of the United states Constitution as con- 
ferring powers on the federal government which should he reserved to the 
States. 

MARSHALL, for John .Marshall, a soldier of the Revolution, statesman, au- 
thor and jurist. Ambassador to France, Representative in Congress from Vir- 
ginia. Secretary of state and Chief Justice of the United States Supreme 
Court. 

RANDOLPH, for Edmund Randolph, a soldier of the Revolution, a lawyer and 
statesman, member of the Continental Congress, Attorney General and Gover- 
nor of Virginia. Secretary of State of the United States and Attorney General 
under Washington. 

Shelby, for Isaac Shelby, a soldier of the Revolution and Indian wars. Cov- 
ernor of Kentucky (1792-1796) and again (1S12-1816). He commanded the Ken- 
tucky troops in the battle of the Thames in the war of 1812. 

Tazewell, for Lyttleton W. Tazewell, an eminent lawyer. Governor, Rep- 
resentative in Congress, and United States Senator from Virginia. 

Nine counties of Illinois adopted the names of counties of other states 
through the influence of emigrants from the counties whose names were thus 
adopted: Champaign and Richland from Ohio: Christian, Hardin, Hender- 
son, Mason. Scott and WOODFORD from Kentucky; and Williamson from 
Tennessee. 

Seven counties bear Indian names, given originally, as a general rule, to a 
creek, river or lake, and afterward transferred to the countj'. These names 
are Iroquois, Kankakjee, Macoupin, Peoria, Sangamon, Wabash and Win- 
nebago. 

Fourteen other counties derive their names from sources so diverse that they 
can not easily be classified under any special head. 

Boone, for Daniel Boone, a pioneer hunter. Indian fighter and pathfinder of 
the early days. 

Bureau, for Pierre Buero, a French trader with the Indians. 

Cumberland, from the Cumberland road, named in its turn from the town 
of Cumberland. Maryland, which derived its name from the mountain range 
of the same name adopted, presumably, from the Cumberland mountains of 
< treat Britain. 

Du PAGE, from a small river of the same name said to have derived its name 
from a French trapper and trader of that region. 

Effingham, for Lord Edward Effingham, who resigned his commission as 
general in the British army, L775, refusing to serve in the war against the 
colonies. 

Fulton, for Robert Fulton, the first successful builder of steamboats on 
American waters. 

Jersey, for the State of New Jersey, which derived its name from the Isle 
of Jerse3 r . Great Britian. 

Lake, for Lake Michigan. 

La Salle, for Robert de La Salle, the French explorer who effected the first 
white settlements in Illinois and explored the Mississippi to the Gulf. 

Massac, from Fort Massac, a corruption of a French surname. Massiac. 

iIock Island, from a rocky island of that name in the Mississippi. 

SALINE, from Saline creek, so called on account of numerous salt springs in 
that locality. 

Union, for the federal union of the American States. 

Vermilion, from the river of that name, the principal branches of which 
flow through the county. 



Note.— The foregoing- article and accompanying maps were prepared by Mr.S. L. Spear of 
the Index department of this office, who wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Judge 
\V. L. ( jross, of Springfield, for the use of a valuable set of original maps and notes covering 
the same subject. James A. Rose. Secretary of State. 

— o C \ 



66 



LIST OF COUNTIES. 



Showing Origin of Name, Date of Organization, County Seat, 

Area and Population in 1900. 



The nineteen counties marked * are not under township organization, 
adopted township organization. 



The others have 



Counties. 



Origin of Name. 



Established. 



Area— 

square 
miles. 



County Seat. 



Pop 1900 



Adams 

*Alexandei . . 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

*Calhoun 

Carroll 

*Cass 

Champaign . . 
Christian . . . . 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland . 

DeKalb 

DeVVitt 

Douglas 

DuPage 

Edgar 

♦Edwards 
Effingham . . . 

Fayette 

Ford 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy 

Hamilton 
Hancock . . . . 

*Hardin 

♦Henderson. . 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson 

Jersey 

JoDaviess .. . 
♦Johnson 

Kane 

Kankakee ... 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

LaSalle 

Lawrence 

Lee 

Livingston . 



John Quincy Adams Jan. 

William M. "Alexander Mar. 

Gov. Shadrach Bond Jan. 

Daniel Boone Mar. 

Gen. Jacob Brown Feb. 

Pierre de Buero, Indian trader. Feb. 

John C. Calhoun Jan. 

Chas. Carroll, of Carrollton . . .. Feb. 

Gen. Lewis Cass Mar. 

A county in Ohio Feb. 

A county in Kentucky Feb. 

George Rogers Clark Mar. 

Henry Clay Dec. 

DeVVitt Clinton Dec. 

Gov. Edward Coles Dec. 

Daniel P. Cook Jan. 

William H.Crawford Dec. 

Cumberland Road Mar. 

Baron DeKalb Mar. 

DeVVitt Clinton Mar. 

Stephen A. Douglas [Feb. 

DuPage river |Feb. 

John Fdgar Jan. 

Gov. Ninian Edwards Nov. 

Gen. Edward Effingham Feb. 

Marquis de La Kayette Feb. 

Gov. Thomas Ford Feb. 

Benjamin Franklin Jan. 

Robert Fulton Jan. 

Albert Gallatin Sept. 

Gen. Nathaniel Greene Jan. 

Felix Grundy Feb. 

Alexander Hamilton Feb. 

John Hancock Jan. 

A county in Kentucky Mar. 

Henderson river Jan. 

Patrick Henry Jan. 

Indian name Feb. 

Andrew Jackson Jan. 

Sergt. William Jasper Feb. 

Thomas Jefferson Mar. 

New Jersey Feb. 

Col. Jo Daviess Feb. 

Col. Richard M.Johnson Sept. 

Senator Elias K. Kane Jan. 

Indian name Feb. 

Amos Kendall Feb. 

Gen. Henry Knox Jan. 

Lake Michigan Mar. 

LaSalle, the explorer .Ian. 

Com. James Lawrence Jan. 

Richard Henry Lee .Feb. 

Fdward Livingston IFeb. 



13, 1825 1 

1,1819 

4,1817 

4,1837 

1, 1839 

28,1837 

10,182.-) 

22,1839 

3, 1837 

20,1833 

15,1839 

22,1819 

23,1821, 

27,1824. 

25, 1830 1 

15,1831 

31,1816 

2,1843 

4,1837 

1,1839: 

8. 18591 

9,1839! 

3, 1823 
28,1814 
15,1831 
14,1821 
17,1859 

2,1818 
28.1823 
14.1812 
20,1821 
17,1841 

8,1821 
13, 1825 

2, 1839 
20,1841 
13. 1825 
26,1833 
10,1816 
15,1831 
26,1819 
28,1839 
17,1827 
14,1812' 
16,1836: 
11,18531 
19,1841 
13,1825 

1,1839 
15,1831. 
16,1821 
27.1839 
27, 1837, 



I 



830 
220 
380 1 
2881 
306 i 
846 j 
2511 
450| 
460; 

1,008 
702 ! 
513 
466 
487 
520 
*90 
470 
350 
650 
4)0 
410 
340 
640 
220 
486 
720 
580 
430 
864 
3(0 
540 
410 
440 
780 
180 
380 
825 

1,100 
580 
484 
466 
360 
650 
340 
540 
680 
321 
72l) 
394 

1, 152 
362 
728 

1,026 



Quincy 

Cairo 

Greenville 

Belvidere 

Mt. Sterling .... 

Princeton 

Hardin 

Mt. Carroll 

Virginia 

Urbana 

Taylorville 

Marshall 

Louisville 

Carlyle 

Charleston 

Chicago 

Robinson 

Toledo 

Sycamore 

Clinton 

Tuscola 

Wheaton , 

Paris 

Albion 

Effingham 

Vandalia 

Paxton 

Benton .' 

Lewistown .... 
Shawneetown . 

Carrollton 

Morris 

McLeansboro . 

Carthage 

Elizabethtown. 

< Iquawka 

Cambridge 

Watseka 

Murphysboto . 

Newton 

Mt. Vernon 

Jerseyville 

Galena 

Vienna 

Geneva 

Kankakee 

Yorkville 

Galesburg 

Waukegan .... 

Ottawa 

Lawrenceville. 

Dixon 

Pontiac 



67, 058 
19, 384 
16,078 
15,791 
11,557 
41,112 
8,917 
18, 963 
17,222 
47,622 
32,790 
24,033 
19,553 
19,824 
34,146 
1,838.735 
19,240 
16,124 
31.756 
18,972 
19,097 
28,196 
28,273 
10,345 
20,465 
28, 065 
18.359 
19,675 
46,201 
15,836 
23, 402 
24,136 
20,197 
32,215 
7,448 
10,836 
40, 049 
38,014 
33,871 
20, 160 
28, 133 
14,612 
24, 533 
15, 667 
78, 792 
37,154 
11,467 
43,612 
34, 503 
87,776 
16,523 
29.894 
42,035 



67 



List of Counties — Concluded. 



Counties. 



Origin of Name. 



Established. 



Area- 
square 
miles. 



County Seat. 



Pop. 1900 



Logan 

Macon 

Macoupin.. . 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall — 

Mason 

*Massac 

McDonough 
McHenry 

McLean 

*Menard 

Mercer 

*Monroe 

Montgomery 

♦Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogie 

Peoria 

*Perrv 

Piatt 

Pike 

*Pope 

*Pulaski ... 

Putnam 

♦Randolph.. 
Richland .. . . 
Rock Island 

Saline 

Sangamon .. 
Schuvler .. . . 

♦Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

St. Clair 

Stephenson. 

Tazewell 

♦Union 

Vermilion . . 

♦Wabash 

Warren 

Washington 

Wayne 

White 

Whiteside . . 

Will 

♦Williamson 
Winnebago. 
Woodford . . 



Dr. John Logan Feb. 

Nathaniel Macon Jan. 

Indian name Jan. 

James Madison Sept. 

Gen. Francis Marion Jan. 

John Marshall Jan. 

A county in Kentucky Jan. 

Fort Massac Feb. 



Jan. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
James Monroe !Jan. 



Com Thomas McDonough 
Gen. William McHenry. 

John McLean 

Pierre Menard 

Gen. Hugh Mercer. 



(ien Richard Montgomery- 
Gen Daniel Morgan 

Gen. William Moultrie 

Lieut. Joseph Ogle 

Indian name 

Com. Oliver H.Perry 

Benjamin Piatt 

Zebulon M.Pike 

Nathaniel Pope 

Count Casimir Pulaski 

( Jen. Israel Putnam 

Edmund Randolph 

A county in Ohio 

1 sland of same name 

Saline creek 

Indian name 

<ien. Philip Schuyler 

A county in Kentucky 

( Jov. Isaac Shelby 

(ien. John Stark 

I (ien. Arthur St. Clair 

Col. Benjamin Stephenson ... 
Gov. Lyttleton W. Tazewell. 

The Union 

Vermilion river 

Indian name 

(ien. Joseph Warren 

( ieorge Washington 

Gen. Anthony Wayne 

Capt. Leonard White 

Col. Samuel Whiteside 

i Conrad Will 

| A county in Tennessee 

Indian name 

A county in Kentucky 



Feb. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Mar. 

Jan. 

(Jet. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Mar. 

April 

Mar. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Mar. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Feb. 



15,1839 
19,1829 
17,1329 
14,1812 
24,1823 
19, 1839 
20,1841 

8, 1843 
25, 1826 
16,183(5 
25,1830 
15,1839 
13, 1825 

6, 1S16 
12,1821 
31,1823 
16, 1843 
10,1836 
13,1825 
29,1827 
27,1841 
31,1821 
10,1816 

3.1813 
13.1825 

5.1795 
24.1841 

9,1831 
25, 1847 
30,1821 
13, 1825 
16,1839 
23,1827 

V.1839 
27,1790 

4,1837 
31,1827 

2,1818 
18,1826 
27,1824 
13,1825! 

2,1818 
26,1819 

9,1815 
16, 1836 
12, 1836 
28,1839 
16, 1836 
27,1841 



620 Lincoln 

580 ; Decatur 

864 Carlinville.... 
740 Edwardsville . 

576 Salem 

350 Lacon 

518! Havana 

240 Metropolis . .. 

576 Macomb 

612 Woodstock . .. 

1,161 Bloomington . 

311 Petersburg. . . . 

550 Aledo 

3S0 Waterloo 

740 Hillsboro 

563 Jacksonville.. 

340 Sullivan 

773 ( )regon 

630 Peoria 

132 Pinckneyville 
140 Monticeilo . .. 

75e Pittsfield 

360 Golconda 

190 Mound City. 

170 Hennepin 

560 Chester 

380Olney 

420 Rock Island. 
396|Harrisburg . . 
875 Springfield . . . 

in Rushville 

252 Winchester. .. 
760 Shelbvville ... 

290lToulo"n 

6^0, Belleville 

573 Freeport 

650 Pekin 

400! Jonesboro 

882 Danville 

220! Mt. Carmel... 
540! Monmouth . 

557 Nashville 

720 Fairfield 

SOOICarmi 

676 Morrison 

850|Joliet 

440 Marion 

540 Rockford 

556 Eureka 



28,680 
44,003 
42,256 
64,694 

30,446 
16,370 
17,491 
13, 110 
28,412 
29, 759 
67,843 
14.336 
20,945 
13,847 
30,836 
35,006 
15,224 
29. 129 
88,608 
19,830 
17,706 
31.595 
13,585 
14.554 
4,746 
28.001 
16,391 
55, 249 
21,685 
71,593 
16.120 
10, 455 
32, 126 
10,186 
86,685 
31,288 
33, 221 
22,610 
65,635 
12,583 
23, 163 
19, 526 
27,626 
25, 386 
34,710 
74, 764 
27, 796 
47,845 
21,822 



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